c/gnome-spotting-squad

Lost $60 on a fake moss lawn gnome with a purple hat

I bought this gnome from a roadside stand in rural Ohio because the hand painted purple hat looked unique. After one rain shower the paint ran badly and the moss was just glued on construction paper. Has anyone else gotten burned by those craft fair gnome sellers?

2 comments

martin.jamie•8d ago

The gnome on the airport luggage carousel finally won me over

Three years ago I would have laughed at anyone taking pictures of garden gnomes. Then last month I was picking up my bag at LAX and sitting right there on carousel 4 was a little red cap gnome with a sign that said 'lost luggage.' Some guy grabbed it and walked off like it was normal. Been keeping my eyes peeled ever since. Anyone else spot a gnome somewhere totally random like that?

1 comments

the_lisa•8d ago

Vent: I think garden gnomes belong in gardens, not on cliffs or in trees

Last month I found a gnome balanced on a rock ledge at Echo Canyon and everyone in my group thought it was hilarious, but I just don't see the point. To me, a gnome looks best tucked among flowers or by a birdbath, not perched somewhere risky where it could fall or get ruined by weather. Am I the only one who prefers keeping them grounded and predictable?

1 comments

tessacarter•12d ago

Maybe I'm the only one who thinks finding gnomes in neat rows is boring

Last Tuesday I spotted a gnome wedged upside-down in a storm drain on Oak Street, completely covered in mud and leaves, and it made my whole week. Everyone on here seems to post those perfect little gnome setups on porches or flower beds, but the messy, weird, almost accidental finds feel way more real to me. Anyone else get more excited over a gnome that looks like it's been through something rough?

2 comments

margaretk89•14d ago

My neighbor said gnomes prefer the southeast corner of a yard...

I moved my gnome collection to the southeast corner like she said and suddenly the squirrels started bringing them little acorn hats... has anyone else had a similar experience with gnome placement?

2 comments

the_robin•14d ago

Spotted a gnome wedged in a birdhouse after a storm last week

I went out to check for damage after that big wind came through and found a little ceramic gnome crammed headfirst into my neighbor's birdhouse like someone shoved him in there for safekeeping, made me wonder how many gnomes actually get displaced by weather and end up in weird spots like that, has anyone else found one in a weird spot after a storm?

2 comments

margaretk89•17d ago

Somehow catalogued 72 gnome sightings in my town alone

I started keeping a photo log of all the garden gnomes I spotted in random spots around my neighborhood. After like six months I counted them up and it was 72 different gnomes in parks, front yards, even one chilling on a bus stop bench. I thought I was just being weird but now I'm wondering how many more are out here. Has anyone else counted their sightings and been surprised by the number?

2 comments

faithg26•17d ago

Got photobombed by a gnome at my sister's wedding in Tulsa

Last Saturday I was taking pics at my little sister's outdoor wedding and when I looked at the photos later, there was a tiny garden gnome peeking out from behind the flower arch in like 6 shots. Turns out my nephew hid his school project gnome there as a joke and nobody noticed until I uploaded everything. Has anyone else had a random gnome show up in a totally unexpected place like that?

2 comments

roseb62•19d ago

My garden gnome rescue mission backfired when the epoxy gave out halfway home

I found this vintage ceramic gnome with a chipped hat at a garage sale in Portland for $3, tried to fix it with super glue on the spot, and five minutes later the pieces were sliding apart in my bag while the seller watched me panic - is it better to just leave broken gnomes as-is or attempt repairs that might make them worse?

2 comments

dylanward•24d ago

Stopped looking down and started looking up for gnomes

Was hiking Bald Mountain last weekend. Spent an hour scanning bushes and rocks. Nothing. Sat down to eat my sandwich and noticed a tiny red hat wedged in a tree branch above me. Someone had wedged a gnome up there like 15 feet high. Now I always check overhead. Anybody else find gnomes in weird high places?

2 comments

lewis.drew•24d ago

My neighbor's gnome collection made me rethink my whole approach

I was out walking my dog last Tuesday and stopped to chat with old Mr. Henderson who lives three houses down. He's got like 40 gnomes in his front yard all arranged in little scenes. I always thought it was kinda goofy honestly. But he told me he's been collecting them since 1985 and each one has a story about where he found it or who gave it to him. That kinda hit me different because I've been just buying gnomes online and sticking them anywhere without any meaning behind them. Has anyone else had a conversation that made you change how you collect or spot gnomes?

2 comments

ninal91•27d ago

Got tricked by a gnome inside a hotel lobby in Portland

I spotted what looked like a gnome sitting on a chair in the Marriott lobby last month. When I went to take a photo it was actually a small statue glued down. Now I always knock on the hat before I snap a picture to avoid looking silly! Has anyone else run into fake gnomes in weird spots?

2 comments

kevin_hernandez83•27d ago

That moment you realize people are treating gnomes like action figures, not garden decor

I keep seeing folks on here posting pics of gnomes posed in these action hero stances, like balanced on one foot holding a tiny tool. That's not what they're for man. I found one last Tuesday tucked under a dripping hose bib at a park in Austin, just sitting there getting dripped on, totally natural and funny. Why do people think they need to stage these things like a Marvel movie?

2 comments

park.troy•28d ago

Finally stopped trying to spot gnomes from the car

I used to just drive around neighborhoods hoping to catch a gnome in someone's yard. Last month I started biking instead on the weekends. Saw 14 gnomes in one ride near Elm Park because you actually notice small details at bike speed. Anyone else switch up their spotting method and see way more?

2 comments

juliawalker•28d ago

Chat with a groundskeeper about gnome safety

I was at a park last Tuesday and this old groundskeeper saw me taking a photo of a gnome hiding in a bush. He said he hides them there to keep kids from stealing them off the grass, because people think they're free souvenirs. Ever had a gnome snatched from your yard and have a theory on who took it?

2 comments

laura211•28d ago

Warning: permanent marker on white garden gnomes fades fast in direct sun

I labeled my gnome's bottom with a sharpie to keep track of where I placed him, but after 3 weeks in a sunny spot the writing was totally gone. Next time I'm using a paint pen or engraving tool so I don't have to re-mark everything every month. Has anyone else had their gnome ID markings vanish like that?

2 comments

the_ruby•28d ago

Just crossed 200 gnome photos in my collection

I hit 200 confirmed gnome sightings last weekend when I found one balancing on a fire hydrant downtown. Never thought I'd keep this up past 50 but now I can't stop checking bushes and mailboxes. Anyone else have a surprise milestone that snuck up on them?

2 comments

the_gavin•29d ago

Spent $140 on a weatherproof gnome cam and it barely survived a drizzle

I know everyone in this group loves those fancy hidden cameras to catch gnome action, but my experience was a total dud. I bought a compact trail cam from a brand a buddy recommended, figured $140 was a fair price for something that would sit outside in the rain. Set it up near the community garden where I spotted a gnome riding a zucchini last month, and after the first overnight mist it just stopped turning on. The specs said it was weatherproof, but when I opened the battery compartment there was moisture inside and corrosion on the terminals. I tried drying it out with rice for two days, no luck, it's just a brick now. Meanwhile my old $30 motion sensor light keeps flickering every time a squirrel walks by, so at least I know something works. Has anyone else had a pricey camouflage camera fail on them while a cheap basic one held up fine?

2 comments

jason112•29d ago

That one cashier who pointed out a gnome in the produce section

I was at a grocery store in St. Paul last Tuesday and this cashier, Linda maybe 55 years old, stops scanning my stuff and points to the bananas. There's a tiny ceramic gnome hiding behind a bunch of green ones holding a little sign that says 'eat me before I brown.' She laughed and said she sees at least one gnome a week in weird spots around the store and it makes her shift less boring. Has anyone else had a stranger point out a gnome you totally would have missed?

2 comments

spencerl32•1mo ago

Overheard a park ranger say gnomes are a sign of healthy soil

I was at Yellowstone last weekend and heard this ranger talking to a group about weird stuff people leave in the woods. He mentioned garden gnomes specifically and said that whenever he finds one in a remote spot, the soil nearby is usually really good. Something about people only placing them where the ground is soft enough to push them in. That got me thinking because my buddy Steve keeps his gnome on concrete. I always thought it was just about hiding them in funny places but now I wonder if the dirt quality matters. Do you guys pick spots based on the ground or just go for the best laugh? Has anyone else noticed a connection between gnome placement and the soil around it?

2 comments

haydenp95•1mo ago

Found a gnome on top of a stop sign in my neighborhood

I was driving home yesterday and saw this little garden gnome just chilling on top of a stop sign at the corner of Elm and 5th. Someone must have climbed up there to put it, it was balancing perfectly with a tiny fishing pole in its hand. It made me laugh so hard I almost missed my turn. Has anyone else spotted gnomes in weird public spots like that?

2 comments

harper_murphy•1mo ago

My best gnome week ended with a $50 traffic ticket

Last Tuesday I had this insane run of gnome finds. Three days in a row I spotted them in weird spots. First one was sitting on a mailbox in front of the 7-Eleven on Main Street in Eugene. Next day I saw one balanced on a fire hydrant near the park. Then on Thursday I caught one hanging from a tree branch outside the library. I was so pumped I posted all three to the group. But then Friday I pulled over to photograph one on top of a bus stop bench and a cop wrote me a ticket for illegal parking. Cost me $50 and I didn't even get a good picture because the gnome fell off while I was talking to the officer. So here's the debate. Do you think the thrill of finding rare gnome spots is worth the occasional hassle or is it better to just appreciate the ones you stumble on without going out of your way? Has anyone else had a great streak turn sour like that?

3 comments