Warning: Another Invasive Garden Pest?

Cute, but don't be fooled!

A friend linked me to a Utah State University Extension video with shocking news. Another vicious pest is invading gardens. Like the common deer pest, the new pest has lots of friends who think it’s cute. “Don’t be fooled,” warns the video.


The new pest is what is commonly called the garden gnome. The Extension video identifies it as Gnomis englantis, an introduction from England, but I suspect Latin purists prefer Gnomis anglais. The Extension says the invasive gnomes often appear first in herb gardens before moving on to veggies and flowers.

They're everywhere!

After I watched the video, I rushed into my garden to see if the invaders had arrived here in Maryland. I was amazed at what I found—five specimens, all in flower gardens. Apparently ours is an advanced infestation.

I tried to interview several of the gnomes, but they declined, saying they expected their spokesperson back soon from the University of Maryland Extension and that if I saw him I would recognize him because he always rides on a terrapin. Go, Terps!

Gnome d'Plume, Gnome Spokesperson.  Go Terps!

As I rounded the corner of the garage into the front yard, I caught a glimpse of the spokesperson and rushed to interview him.


“What’s your name?” I queried, trying to break the ice.


“Gnome d’Plume,” he replied.


“Is that really your name?” I asked.

'Oh, Give Me a Gnome...'

“No comment,” he replied. I sensed this was going to be a difficult interview, so I tried to break some more ice.


“Looks like you’ve just arrived here,” I said. “Have you been on a trip?”


“Yes,” he replied. “Alaska.”


“Alaska?”


“Yes, Gnome.”


I knew this interview was going nowhere. As I turned to leave, Gnome d’Plume broke into song—the gnome national anthem, of course—“Oh, give me a gnome, where the deer and the groundhogs roam….”

Gnome Home?

On my way back into the house, I spied a sixth gnome. A plaque—a gift of a friend, jM—contains a gnome and these words: “Gnome Sweet Gnome.”


We seem to have a lot of gnomes here at Meadow Glenn. Maybe I should look for some repellent spray. I suppose it would be labeled, “Gnome & Garden Spray.” The label might say, “Warning: If you haven’t smiled yet, consult your physician.”


If you have a suppressed smile or two and have four minutes and 51 seconds for a chuckle or two, link to Utah State University Extension video, “Gnome Management in the Garden.” CLICK HERE.