Roaming to the Gnome Away from Home Exhibit

Garden gnomes in search of a tropical Spring Break vacation traveled to Garfield Park Conservatory on the south side of Indianapolis the last two weeks of March for the sixth annual Gnome Away from Home exhibit, featuring more than 200 gnomes.  Over half of the gnomes were loaned by local residents for the display, which has a different theme every year.  The exhibit has grown to include over 200 gnomes for this year’s event.  I’d been to see the gnome show once before, in 2013, which was the first year it was held. The first gnome show had 74 gnomes and there was a scavenger hunt to find them all – which I did of course!

This year’s scavenger hunt included a long list of items instead of gnomes to search for such as a ukulele, a heart, planets, and the toughest one of all, a ninja.  That was the last item we found, and even with some help, I stared at the same spot for a good five minutes before crouching down, leaning over a goldfish pond and careening my neck in order to see it!  My mom was in charge of checking items off the scavenger hunt list while I took photos.  There were several families on Spring Break enjoying the gnome show.  The conservatory was warm and welcoming on a cold rainy day and it was wonderful to see all the flowers and greenery since Spring weather still hadn’t arrived yet when we went.

The theme for this year’s show, which changes each year, was Storybook Gnomes, featuring vignettes based on classic children’s books.  My favorite storybook scene was Goldilocks and the Three Gnomes, because the scene is just so cute. There’s a Goldilocks gnome and baby, mama and papa gnomes in three beds.  The scene is even complete with three bowls of porridge on their nightstands!

I can’t wait to see what the theme is next year!

This section at the front of the conservatory featured gnomes based on Dr. Seuss stories: The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, The Lorax, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, Fox in Socks, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas!