Lions, No. Gnomes,Yes

I guess I asked for it when I criticized cement lion statues, but I know you are asking yourself- what about that stupid collection of gnomes strewn about (my) yard?
Everyone has a different idea of what a yard should look like. I have often had neighbors who wanted their lawns to look like a golf course. Once I saw a neighbor walk out of her house in the middle of the afternoon just to pick up a single leaf. One house down the block turned a small front yard into a Oriental style display of statues and pots. Anyone reading this who ever went to Western Washington University will be sad to hear that the glass mosaics of birds that were embedded in the wall at the house on Garden Street were torn out. In spite of being an eyesore, they are missed.
My idea of what a back yard should look like includes gnomes and fairies. I've put several unique whimsical decorations around behind bushes or hanging from tree limbs. I nailed two wooden plaques painted like eyes to turn my grand fir into an Ent. I know my yard it appealing because a neighbor used to always bring her young children around for tours. Okay, so it was just one neighbor, but I bet a lot more wish they had a reason to look around.
Obviously gnomes, unlike lions, make the world a better place.
Nancy Sherer