Monday, June 11, was the Garden Day holiday in Germany. To celebrate, the Google Doodle (the often-decorated logo on the Google homepage that celebrates holidays, people and events) has the history of garden gnomes, along with an interactive game. I was weeding yesterday to make room for my garden gnomes. Four came from my mother who got them from an elderly garden club friend in the 1940s. History traces the “travels” of gnomes from 13th century Anatolia to 16th century Italy to 19th century Germany. Also hiding in my plants are 6-inch gnomes made of iron or plastic that I found at various antiques events. Gnomes are good luck. All have long, shaggy beards and pointed caps. Each holds a gardening tool since traditionally, they work in the garden each night. My big ones were made in Germany in the 1880s of iron. They are about 4-feet high and are newly painted. I also have several copies made of concrete. They don’t help in the garden … one has a suitcase, not a rake, so I assume he is always leaving. Books and TV shows featuring gnomes have made them very popular, even famous enough to be considered icons and featured on a Google Doodle.