How about we build a gnome garden? After all, spring is in the air! Well sort of. This past weekend, we had the most fabulous tease of spring weather. It was absolutely amazing.
Oh I know better than to think that snow is over for the season. But I see no need to acknowledge reality here. After all, reality can be such a buzz kill. We’re thinking sunny thoughts today.
So on that note, Yay!! Spring is coming! Let’s celebrate and build a gnome garden because that’s springy right? And it has gnomes. Who doesn’t love gnomes?
Now before I get all up into the DIY details, you may be wondering why my gnome garden is elevated?
Well funny story….It started last summer when I spotted a cute little gnome kit at my local garden center.
The kit was one small gnome and some mini furniture. By the way, gnomes don’t mind living outside but they detest sitting on the ground so you must provide them tiny furniture.
I was happy to help the orphaned gnome so I promptly purchased the kit, a pot, and some plants. I justified my impulsive purchase by telling myself it would be a bonding activity for my 11 year old son and I. (Yep, more of my total disregard for reality.)
I brought it home, pulled my son off the Xbox and we happily put it together.
Mostly happy anyway and it provided the best 3 minutes of bonding time I could have ever imagined.
I really out-did myself on this one and I proudly put it on my patio table. And it was super cute for about a week until my little brown dog (the gnome hater) took notice.
At this point, brown dog decided gnomes make great dog toys and he began snatching the unarmed gnome from his home and pillaging his furnishings. Then little brown dog would run off into the yard with his loot to do a victory lap. Jerk.
Yeah, thanks Ray (little brown dog). Sigh*
And that would have been the end of our gnome adventure but somewhere during the process my older son also took an interest in gnome life.
I guess he decided since the first gnome planter idea went so smoothly that we needed to do it BIGGER and BETTER and MORE COMPLICATED. What can I say, he takes after his Mom. (poor fellow)
So at this point I have a dog who eats gnomes, a younger son who could care less because he has gone back to playing his xbox and an older child planning an entire gnome city.
The oldest has even convinced grandma to take him to the garden center to purchase a load of gnome gear for his future gnome wonderland.
Hmmmm, This wasn’t exactly the plan.
I loved seeing my son’s creative interest but we still had a big problem to solve -the little brown Godzilla running around the backyard. If gnomes were in our future, they were going to need a home out of reach of little brown dog.
Around this time, my neighbor was getting rid of some bar stools and wanted to know if I wanted them. Of course, I happily took them off her hands. I didn’t need bar stools but I saw they would make great table legs.
Building the Patio Gnome Garden Box
This gave me the idea to build a garden table for our little gnome friends. I was able to build a garden box and use the legs of the stool to elevate it into a garden table. The garden box didn’t need to be fancy.
I made a rough box out of some old scrap barn wood that I had from when my sister pulled down one of her barns. All I did was cut a few boards to form a bottom and then four boards to create the sides. I secured them together with wood screws. It was so easy to do. Then I detached the seat from the stool.
Next attached the frame to my box.
This is my husband critiquing my work. Umm thanks Honey.
Then I cut and stapled a piece of tarp on the inside to hold the dirt better. I did poke a couple of holes in the bottom for drainage.
I sanded the sides a little because I wanted to get off some of the old barn paint. It was basically ready at this point. All I needed to do was fill it would dirt, some plants and my son James could get to work on his village.
We purchased a few succulents from the garden store but most of the plants came from our house garden beds. We took creeping tyme , hens and chicks and moss that was already growing in the back yard. I gave him some pebble rocks and blue rock glass that I had in my craft stash. He then brushed me away so he could put his plan together. Apparently, I was in the way. Ha! I went inside and painted some little rocks to look like strawberries for his garden. He liked those and added them to his “plan”.
It really did turn out fun and best of all, it was dog proof! We were able to upcycle items we already had so the structure basically cost us $0. And it worked well on our patio all summer long.
What do you think?
Happy Creating,
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Beverly Fortson says
I am wanting to design a gnome area in my back yard with knee high gnomes. I have the site selected where a dig house I’d located. Do was too big for doghouse (Rottweilers font fit in houses that were designed for Chihuahuas. I want to use mostly native things from my back yard. So am planning it in my head before I get busy building it. Some ferns, creeping Jenny, Miss covered rocks ,dead mossy short branches. Will also use mushrooms, hopefully spawn some from grocery stores. Will need small flowers that need low sunlight. It will be under a small thicket if privet hedge. Something that will live through an Arkansas winter, which is pretty moderate. A few freezes in the winter. Then the big problem will be to find larger gnomes!
adeeba says
woow its amazing gardening ideas you have to share .
Its really a nice piece of info
Yvonne says
I love reading stories like this. Love the gnome garden. Really hate to give the kids all the credit but I think the builder may have a future in building. It turned out fantastic. Mom, I think you have a future in story writing. Great job everyone.
Patricia Stephens says
I love the gnome garden and since I have 2 granddaughters I think we might do a fairy in there too.
Thanks,
Pat
Jen Panguluri says
Oh my, that’s wonderful! Don’t you love it when thing turn out better than expected? I especially liked the “they are creepy” picture of your dogs. Thanks!
maggiesblog2 says
This is too adorable! Reminds me of a fairy garden but I think I prefer the gnomes!
Jennifer says
Thank you Maggie! When you have boys you have to go with gnomes. 🙂
Amanda | Maple Alps says
This is really sweet!! It makes me reconsider gnomes! Seriously, some of those big ones scare me! But these are so cute!
Jennifer says
Me too! I would have done a fairy garden but I knew if I had a pray of a chance to get the boys interested then it was going to have to be gnomes
popshopamerica says
This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life <3 <3 <3
http://popshopamerica.com/
Jennifer says
You are so sweet popshopamerica, thank you
Patti Estep says
How fun!! What a great tutorial. I can think of all kinds of projects with this idea. Beautiful and inspiring!
Jennifer says
Thank you Patti 🙂
Danielle says
Life is never dull with four legged family members is it?! 🙂 We have boxers and they have been known to add their own interior design ideas to our home as well. Love your solution! Thank you for sharing at the Celebrate Your Story Link Up Party.
Jennifer says
That sounds so funny. I would love to hear how your boxers like to decorate LOL
Have a great day Danielle!
AJ @ Aspen Jay says
Wow Jenny! Love this little gnome garden and glad you figured out a way to keep the dogs free from it! Your son did such a great job designing (artistic talent must run in the family. 🙂 ).
Thanks for sharing with us and linking up to #TALENTEDTuesday!
Hope you are having a lovely day!
Cheers,
AJ
Jennifer says
Awww thank you Aspen Jay. You are so sweet. I actually was really surprised he did so well. When he insisted I back off and let him do it I thought for sure I would have to come back when he wasn’t looking and “touch it up”. When he brought me out to show me, I was stunned. Now if only he would pull that off on his bedroom. lol
Have a wonderful week Aspen Jay.
Sherry says
Jenny that is awesome! I so love the dog pic and the 11 year-old getting pulled off Xbox. I can relate! I will feature this tomorrow at HSH!
Jennifer says
Sherry, thank you for the big hug and sharing my silly story
Sherry says
That is really cute! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
Rebecca says
Your story was hilarious, and your son’s gnome garden is beautiful. He has a very good eye for design. I’m pinning this for my 10 year-old daughter because she is obsessed with making fairy gardens right now. There are so many great ideas in here that she will love to use.
Jennifer says
Thank yo Rebecca, you made my day 🙂
I love that your daughter is into mini gardens.
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says
I’ve never even heard of a gnome garden, but I LOVE this! I totally want to do one!
Jennifer says
Thank you Morgan!
Nancy Porter says
I have been playing around with a gnome area the past couple years. This inspires me for the next step. Just what I “needed”.
Jennifer says
Oh fabulous! I am so glad to here that Nancy.
Annie says
I love your gnome garden! Great jobs everyone (well except the dog), it looks so pretty!
Jennifer says
Thank you so much Annie 🙂
HomeToCottage.com says
That is absolutely darling! And what a great idea with the discarded stool for legs! Liz
Jennifer says
Thank you so much Liz 🙂
Debby messner says
Bad doggy. But thanks for mentioning this. We have a new to fairy garden puppy. I will have to put mine up higher too. We moved in November and I have no idea where my fairy garden things are. I just got some Mary Englebriet fairy things yesterday. So at least I have those.
Jennifer says
ahaha Oh those puppies! Good luck Debby with your garden and getting settled after your move. we are year in this house and I still don’t know where things are!
Maarit says
Very lovely!
Jennifer says
Thank you Maarit 🙂
Laurie says
Love your gnome garden so much! Thank you for sharing the project with us at Snickerdoodle Sunday! Pinned and tweeted to share 🙂 Hope you have a fantastic week!
~Laurie
Jennifer says
Thank you So much Laurie! You are so kind.
Crochet Hooks says
so in love with these gnome gardens!! Love how you thought to use those stools as table from the start too. What a sweet son to give into his creative side too! Thanks for sharing the inspiration!
Jennifer says
Thank you so much for the sweet comment. Seriously, I appreciate the love! 🙂