About Lennon

Make soil, not dirt. Make flowers, not weeds. Make weed, not ditch weed.

My fans always ask me how I put up with that arrogant bastard, McCartney. My answer to them is that every day is an gift to be experienced and to learn from. The more uptight he gets, the defiant I get. The more bossy he gets, the more rebellious I get. He and I have a dynamic that I’m only beginning to understand. I need to go meditate on that for a few hours.

Oh yeah and there’s the other guys too. They’re cool.

I love playing the trumpet because I feel that using my lips so much every day will make me the greatest kisser of all time. Gnomes never thought that trumpets could play reggae, but I have shown them they’re wrong.

I love you all and hope all you fans come to our first show on April 1st! I am not opposed to signing bras, boobs, and any other lady parts that might be flashed at me.

Harmony of the whales,

Lennon The Gnome

Spending a Day with Rich Humphreys of Gnome Countryside

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Lennon

One of our human companions named Alyssa has been so kind as to share a guest post with us about her tour of Gnome Countryside. But from a human perspective of course. Seems like a pretty rad place. Who else wants to check this out with us?!

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One of my favorite things about being part of a community of gnome enthusiasts is getting the opportunity to meet other collectors and swap stories. As a writer with an insatiable spirit of wanderlust, my travels have led me to many amazing people who inspire me to keep collecting and spreading the joy of gnomes.

This summer, I had the opportunity to meet Rich “The Gnomeman” Humphreys at the one and only Gnome Countryside, tucked away in the peaceful rolling hills of Kirkwood Pennsylvania. For 35 years, Rich has been entertaining and educating kids and adults in his “Gnomery” and enchanted forest.

Rich, a long-time diabetic who nearly lost his sight to diabetic retinopathy, created Gnome Countryside after teaching school in Alaska for 12 years. He renovated this beautiful property and interwove the stories of gnomes into his nature tours. Rich first became enchanted by gnomes on a trip to Denmark, and he even dresses like a gnome in a wonderfully eccentric fashion!

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I first learned about Rich’s mission and Gnome Countryside in 2014 under tragic circumstances. Local news sources reported that a fire devastated his 220-year-old log home, destroying his possessions, but never his spirit. He has since rebuilt his home, and it’s just as beautiful as ever.

My tour of Gnome Countryside began in the Gnomery, a cozy room filled with wonderful gnomes where Rich shared stories, environmental facts, and songs with his captive audience. Then we followed The Gnomeman through the wooded trails, using our five senses to appreciate the rugged beauty that surrounded us. Small gnomes and gnome homes could be found along the trails (if you looked closely), and they were surely very happy here. Other highlights of the visit included listening to the waterfall sounds of Gnome Gniagra, participating in a drum circle, and building gnome homes and rock towers in the woods.

Gnomes and nature go hand-in-hand, and this is a place to embrace that relationship and celebrate stewardship of the environment and a sense of community in the outdoors. Through Gnome Countryside, Rich empowers visitors to return home with a renewed love for the environment and a commitment to protect nature. Gnome Countryside celebrates the legends of gnomes, teaches us about gnomes and nature, brings your senses to life. With a creative sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye, Rich’s dedication to nature and all its creatures is contagious.

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You too can visit Gnome Countryside if you only travel to the heart of Pennsylvania Amish country! Rich is an incredibly friendly and kindhearted man who loves to chat, so give him a call at 717-786-4928. Gnome Countryside is a favorite among school group tours, but he also leads individual two-hour tours at a rate of $10 per person. Morning and afternoon tours are typically available Monday through Saturday from April through October, rain or shine.

***A version of this story will be published in the upcoming edition of the International Gnome Club Newsletter!***

Songs about Gnomes & Their Curious Inspiration

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Lennon

With the recent passing of musical legend, David Bowie, an old song of his popped into my head the other day: “The Laughing Gnome.” To my knowledge, Bowie was never an avid gnome collector so why would he write a song about a gnome?

In fact, I’ve often wondered why musical artists name their bands and songs after gnomes, especially when they have little to do with our beloved little friends.

Bowie’s song tells the story of walking down the street, hearing footsteps, and turning around to find a “little old man” who chuckles away all day long singing “I’m a laughing gnome and you don’t catch me!” The song was released as a single in 1967 and features a sped-up voice and several puns on the word “gnome.” It’s radically different from much of his other work and has been described as a fun children’s song, a mod anthem, and an embarrassment.

Another gnome song from an unexpected band is “The Gnome” by Pink Floyd. The song appears on their album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, and tells the story of a gnome named Grimble Grumble. This little guy wore a scarlet tunic with a blue-green hood, and he had a big adventure in the great outdoors, followed by a bit of wining and dining. Sounds pretty fun, right? As far as I know, the British psychedelic rock band wasn’t into collecting gnomes either, but the song’s inspiration reportedly came random creativity and J.R.R. Tolkien’s books.

However, David Bowie and Pink Floyd haven’t been the only musical artists to oddly embrace gnomes…even if only for a short time. For example, the album of one Australian band simply named “Gnome” was described in a review as “other-worldly, blissful, euphoric, natural, and tranquil.”

It seems that many artists identify with what gnomes represent and are drawn to express those qualities through music. It also just goes to show that you don’t have to be a gnome expert to enjoy and celebrate gnomes’ clever, fun-loving, and mischievous nature!

So allow me to introduce you to few gnome-related songs and bands to listen to and decide for yourself. No matter what type of music you’re into, you’re sure to find a gnome song you enjoy, or at least get a chuckle out of.

David Bowie’s “The Laughing Gnome,” – Audio – Lyrics
Pink Floyd’s “The Gnome” – Audio – Lyrics
David the Gnome Theme Song – Video
The Alpaca Gnomes (band from Connecticut) – Video
Gnome (band from Cleveland, Ohio) – Video
The Gnome Addicts (band from Toronto) – Video
UnGnomes (band from Chicago) – Audio

Do you know of any other gnome bands or gnome songs? I’d love to check ’em out, so please share with me!

***This article will appear in the next issue of the International Gnome Club newsletter. Find out what else is going on in the world of gnome news, by joining our club!***

Meet Shirley Gnome: A Raunchy Canadian Comedy Performer with an Awesome Name

Posted on July 9, 2014 by Lennon

Anyone who has the last name “Gnome” is A-OK in my book.

I randomly encountered someone who can only be described as my dream girl. Her name is Shirley Gnome and she’s completely and wonderfully inappropriate.

To get what I’m talking about, watch her music video for “Old Man.”

Shirley Gnome is a “self-styled white trash burlesque and comedy performer. Singing her special brand of dirty, crass, and absurd ‘cuntry’ music, Shirley belts out original tunes about the embarrassing, hilarious, and titillating adventures that happen when bodies collide.”

I have yet to hear her sing much about real gnomes, but honestly, I’m a little nervous about what she’d sing anyway.

She’s become pretty popular around Vancouver and scored $20 grand for winning the People Champ of Comedy Competition in 2012 Grand Prize Winner. She’s also been nominated for a 2014 Canadian Comedy Award for Best Variety Act. Right on, m’lady!

Photo credit: Alex Waterhouse

“If you fancy a wild evening of sexually fueled country rock, then get yourself along to see Shirley Gnome,” proclaimed an Edinburgh Fringe review.

Anyway, I love discovering gnome musicians of all sorts and thought I’d enlighten you about my new obsession today.

Tootaloo gnomies!

xoxo,
Lennon the Gnome

Checking In With Freddie Fisher: The Famous Gnome of Derbyshire

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Lennon

According to local British reporters, Derbyshire’s most famous gnome could soon be seen by a much wider audience.

His name is Freddie Fisher, and he first entered the gnome scene in 2011. As gnomes began popping up outside strangers’ houses, it became clear that Freddie’s mission was to make people think about etiquette and manners.

Photo credit: The Derby Telegraph

Freddie started talking to a Facebook friend about ideas for a children’s book. This emerged into a conversation about animation skits and newspaper cartoons. “I’m in the process of looking to pitch the cartoon to TV channels like CBBC and the Cartoon Network,” Freddie said.

“With hard work and some clever promotion, Freddie’s stories will take flight and become part of the mainstream, thus shining a light in a somewhat downbeat world,” commented Dan Willer, one of the six animators involved.

Freddie’s Facebook page has over 700 followers (c’mon Drunk Gnome fans…we can beat that!) and his website is updated with ongoing news stories. What started as a harmless prank has turned into a gnomish media sensation! You can keep up to date with all the Freddie Fisher news by visiting his Facebook page.

Right on Freddie…we love what you’re doing and can’t wait to see how this animation project goes 🙂
Lennon the Gnome

All About Tacoma-based Gnome Sculptors, Art of Stone

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Lennon

The husband-wife team, Tammy and Shawn Christensen, have been making all sorts of gnomish headlines lately with their sculpting business, Art of Stone.

Shawn Christensen in his manufacturing facility where he, wife Tammy, and a crew produce concrete sculptures, concentrating on the seasonally popular gnomes at the moment. — MCT

Randomly enough, the couple doesn’t make just gnomes, but they also throw gargoyles, VW Beetles, and warty toads into the mix. They make the lil’ buggas all from scratch, which means a whole bunch of mixing, hauling, molding, staining, and painting. But all that hard work is paying off.

The Christensens got a temporary retail store in Tacoma, and say the most challenging part of gnome-making is ensuring that the pointy hats don’t tilt too much to one side.

Their house was converted into a gnome (and other inferior creatures) workshop, where even concrete hippos, frogs, and Buddhas have been spotted.

Some of the couple’s gnomes are picking their noses and sticking out their tongues. Nose pickers are the most popular of all. And rightfully so.

So what’s next for the Christensen gnomes? “I want to do a lady that’s actually a tree, with a stump for her base and branches for her arms,” says Tammy.

Right on, guys…right on.

The Drunk Gnome

Just when you thought your garden was sober…

Author Archives: Lennon