A transplanted Southern Californian living in North Dakota Idaho, with some insights on life with deaf dogs, a gluten free spouse, and the occasional mischievous garden gnome. Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoy.





Sunday, December 4, 2011

Garden Gnome Hibernation

The first day of December marks the true shift into Holiday mode.  The last bits of stuffing and pie are gone, Christmas lists are drafted, and lights start to adorn the neighborhood.  December 1st also marks the traditional day of Garden Gnome Hibernation.  It's been pretty chilly lately, though nothing unseasonably cold, just normal late Fall temperatures, and the garden gnomes have been getting chilly at night.
Frederick the Gnome has snuggled in a bed of leaves up to his beard to keep warm at night.  As you may already know, garden gnome culture dictates that all gnomes have a huge end of season shindig before heading to their winter hibernation cave (the cardboard box we put them in and store in the garage).  The party can get pretty raucous since it's their last opportunity for merriment before the long winter. 
Franklin the Gnome was groggy and laying face first in a bed of leaves when I showed up this morning with the hibernation box.  He had few too many the night before and was sleeping it off in the fallen leaves. 
Furkel the Gnome took one last fertilizing good luck poop in the garden and it was nap time for the season.  See you in Spring garden gnomes. 

8 comments:

Karen said...

So that's where the Gnomes in my garden have gone off to, the Cave of Hibernation! (I wonder where I put the box?)

Franklin was lucky you found him sleeping one off in the leaves. It could have been a senseless tragedy if he hadn't been found in time to hop in the cave. Frederick is much smarter, leaving nothing to chance.

Furkel, well, he's got the right idea...one last hurrah before the Big Sleep.

Kate said...

I would like to know where gnome poo rates fertilization wise on a scale with cow manure, horse, pig, chicken... sea weed... It might actually be worth getting a few!!

HolleyGarden said...

I came here through Karen's blog. I am not well versed in gnomes-ess, so I didn't realize that the Traditional Day of Hibernation was upon us. I suppose that's good - surely they will not get into any trouble while hibernating!

El Gaucho said...

Kate - From what I understand the order of mythical creature fertilizer efficacy goes like this (from worst to best): centaur, griffin, leprechaun, gnome, and then unicorn. Surprisingly and despite my best efforts I have been unable to secure a steady supply of unicorn poop. Maybe next year.... Actually the "pooping gnome" is called a caganer and is a traditional Catalonian/European good luck charm.

Hibernation helps, but does not necessarily preclude crazy gnome shenanigans. You just never know with them.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Karen sent me your way fantastic blog. My gnomes Edger and Norman are a bit stroppy about going in a box so I will have to be crafty and lure them in make the box look like a suitcase as they have a passion for travel!

Sueb

Tootsie said...

I am loving your blog! I am the host of the party that sent me to you and I am sure glad you were shared! thanks so much for sharing with us! I will be back again as soon as I can!

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

Andrea said...

Hi, Karen did a very good job in enticing us to come over, and yes i had a good laugh too. She is right, you write under 4,502.3 words, while she does above that. We don't have the Gnome Hibernation Season, because we don't have either autumn or winter. We just have summer the whole year, divided into dry and wet. Does that mean our gnomes are out all the time? But i haven't seen one in gardens here!

Andrea said...

Hi, Karen did a very good job in enticing us to come over, and yes i had a good laugh too. She is right, you write under 4,502.3 words, while she does above that. We don't have the Gnome Hibernation Season, because we don't have either autumn or winter. We just have summer the whole year, divided into dry and wet. Does that mean our gnomes are out all the time? But i haven't seen one in gardens here!