Why I Love Gnomes and Other Garden Ornaments (Hey Cathy Eat Your Heart Out!)

Sigh....all the marigolds and petunias (as well as the cucumbers and basil and other plants I choose to forget about) I planted over the last couple weeks, have been mowed to the ground. Gone are the bright yellow and orange floral smiles I planted for my gnomes. Gone are the deep purple and pink with white joys that I hoped would some how make it THIS year.

It is a yearly tradition. The weather gets better. Each year I try to outwit the snails and slugs that are in my garden. So many of them, a French Connoisseur would salivate if there were any garlic near by. These snails are HUGE.

Yes, ever year, although I know better, I cannot resist. I cheerfully go to the garden store. Buy a flat or 2 of pretty flowers. I don my garden shoes, arm myself with a trowel. I move my sad looking gnomes who have survived another winter, pull the weeds plant the flowers and put the gnomes back in their garden.

The gnomes look happy, and the yard looks pretty. For a week. Two if I am REALLY lucky.

I hate snails.

Oh I have tried snail bait. Those were the years my flowers lived for 2 weeks. Maybe 3. I can't use snail bait because my dog would surely eat her self to death, literally, before the snails got to the poison.

I have tried circles of salt. My garden looked like a witches garden. But salt doesn't last past the watering, and it isn't good for the soil.

I tried moats of beer. Later finding mass suicide of hoards of snails and slugs. All who must have had a happy intoxicated death. I hate dealing with the carnage. And I never seem to have too much beer in the house as I am not a beer drinker generally speaking.

I just cannot keep up with the legions of snails and slugs. My arsenal of weapons never seem to be enough to keep them at bay.

I lose the battle every year, without fail.

So, I decorate my garden with gnomes and other assorted magical lawn creatures. At least they don't die. Sure, after several seasons, they fade. Some suffer an even worse demise, having cracked and fallen apart. But they last longer than the marigolds and petunias.

This year I have had to depart with several of my older gnomes. It is time to replace some of my sturdy garden friends.

Yes, my pink flamingo has seen the last if his days.

I can't look at flamingo without thinking of my dearest friend Cathy Benton. She is the flamingo lady.

Now, I have to tell you this about Cathy. While we were in India last fall, she decided that I was the "bird lady". Sure I love birds, and maybe it is because I oohed and awwed at many a bird while in India, especially the peacocks that I earned this distinction. Or maybe it was because I talked about my parrot, Lucy, that also added my being the "bird lady". Whatever the reason, because of this, I often heard:

"Look! Sig!! A BIRD!!"

OR

"Look!! Sig!! A PEACOCK!!"

I could never say to her "Look!! Cathy!! A Flamingo!!" Even though I would look in vain for the pink bird. (Though, "Look Cathy!! GANESH!" was more the mantra).

So, Cathy, you will love this! And eat your heart out! I found a fabulous PEACOCK for my garden. Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? Flamingos, as wonderful and beautiful as they are, can they match the majesty of this lawn ornament?

Peacock in the Front yard...for the photo only.

I wanted so much to place her in the front yard so that she can greet me when I come home everyday. But with the gnomes that were stolen from the front yard, I could not risk it. Sigh....I placed her in the back yard. I still can enjoy her in the back.

In the back yard

What do you think? Would you have a flamingo or a peacock in your garden (how about gnomes)? Have you ever seen a flamingo as wonderful as this peacock?

Hey Cathy!! Look!! A PEACOCK!!  :)