Keeper of the Holly

Meet Holly. She has a very important job to do this holiday season. She is responsible for protecting the coveted holly berries. To help keep them safe, she was sure to request that the holly leaves be prickly - a good idea indeed! She has to be sure to keep the red berries safe all the way up until Christmas day, when the gnomes in the community use them to decorate for their wondrous festivities. The Christmas festival would gnot be gnearly as merry without the bright red berries. After all, in this season it's hard to find anything with that much color! Just imagine a Christmas without the color red. Yeah, I can't either. I guess it goes to show that Holly knows her stuff. Oh I'm so glad they assigned her to the job!

Keeper of the Holly

Meet Holly. She has a very important job to do this holiday season. She is responsible for protecting the coveted holly berries. To help keep them safe, she was sure to request that the holly leaves be prickly - a good idea indeed! She has to be sure to keep the red berries safe all the way up until Christmas day, when the gnomes in the community use them to decorate for their wondrous festivities. The Christmas festival would gnot be gnearly as merry without the bright red berries. After all, in this season it's hard to find anything with that much color! Just imagine a Christmas without the color red. Yeah, I can't either. I guess it goes to show that Holly knows her stuff. Oh I'm so glad they assigned her to the job!

The Hive

There are many gnooks and corners in the garden that give one a magical feeling that somehow you are more when you leave than you were went you entered, but no place compares to The Hive. The Hive is a welcoming place, buzzing with activity. Gnomelings come in to play games, watch movies that were once books, complete crafts about friendship, and most importantly... lose themselves in the world of a book! Anygnome is welcome. Everygnome loves being there. It is full of kind hearted souls sitting in the chairs, the steps and the floor. Books let you travel without moving your feet, and these gnomelings are ready to explore! They are hungry to learn about other worlds, all the while really learning more about themselves! It really is a place of magic. It is a place of happiness.

Literary Guardians

If you ask me, I would tell you that we owe those in the Gnomish community so much for all the wonderful gifts surrounding us. It is gno secret that for every blessing we may have, there is likely a fuzzy little soul keeping tending to it so that we may enjoy the gift to its fullest potential. That being said, some gifts are more valuable than others and its the best of the best treasures that require the most special of souls to watch over them. Without a doubt, the Gnomish History books that have been passed down from generation to generation tops the list. These are the literary works that touch our souls, encourages us to be brave and inspires us to both laugh and cry. What makes a book a great work of literature? Well if you must ask, then I suppose I must answer. If by touching the book, you are swept away and into an adventure to a magical land, in which you've gnever imagined, chances are you have found yourself a bit of the Gnomish magic of which I am speaking. Gnow you understand just how important these gifts are, so it should come as gno surprise that the Gnomish Council chose this brave soul to help watch over the treasured works of art. Yes, you heard me right. A true treasured work of art is passed around and shared with loved ones of all ages. It is too good to keep to one's self, and it is definitely a good thing that there are guardians such as this one, to help ensure each literary gift is truly treasured, protected and shared.

Angel Reminders

I'm sure you have had moments in your life when you feel like you are being watched. It is almost like a blanket of love is covering you from above and you can gnot help but feel just a bit more of whatever feelings you were missing just moments before. Perhaps you were sad and gnow you feel a smile creeping onto your face. Or maybe you were scared and gnow feel enough courage to take that gnext step forward. Maybe, just maybe, you were feeling lonely and suddenly you know without a doubt that you are loved. You know the moments I am speaking of, even if you do gnot have an explanation for what is happening. Pssst... I'll let you in on a little secret. It's because this tiny angel that you felt that feeling of peace upon you. She has a very big job to do and she loves every moment of it! She flutters around, waiting for the right moment - one of those moments in which she is gneeded most. Then when the moment comes, she does gnot hesitate to get to work quickly! She whispers so lightly in your hear that she is barely audible, but she knows is all it takes. Just what is she doing to perform such tiny acts of magic? Why she is a messenger. She may look tiny to you and me, but I assure you, she delivers the biggest messages you can imagine. These messages come from the eldergnomes of yesterday. Some may believe there is gnot much to say about our elders who are gno longer with us, but this little angel knows better. She knows there is still wisdom, strength and courage to be shared, and she is oh so very proud to be the one trusted in delivering the messages from past loved ones to their present loved ones. Life is good. Life is beautiful, and with this little lady by your side, it is easy to remember the impact our eldergnomes have had on our life and to use that to enjoy it to its fullest!

Garden Music Gnotes

At first glance at this lovely lady and you will likely gnotice that she is quite little and delicate, and is sweetly dressed all the time. But do gnot let her small gnature fool you! There is so much more to this kind soul than her little body may indicate! Spend a few moments with her and you will quickly notice that her voice is magical and sweet. She uses her talent to sing to the young gnomelings in her corner of the garden. Music is a magical tool and one she certainly takes advantage of. After all, it is through music that souls, young and old, find inspiration, joy and even sorrow. With music comes a great power, and she uses it to brighten her corner of the garden as much as she can. You would think that with the young gnomelings being her #1 focus, she would gnot have time for anything else, but that's where she impresses all the more! She also devotes her time to speaking her voice to members of the Gnomish Congress to support those who do gnot seem to have a voice of their own. When it comes to standing up for equal rights for every soul in the garden, she is something fierce! What magic she has and shares with those around her! And as if that was gnot enough, she spends every spare moment she has in her garden, encouraging her flowers to grow. The garden could use more organizers and gnurturers such as she. As for me, I am just tickled with every ounce of my soul that I am lucky enough to be able to call her my fairy god sister. With all the things we've been through since meeting her so many seasons ago, I can honestly say my life is better having someone as connected with her higher self as she is - a true inspiration to all those fortunate enough to meet her!

A New Set of Wings

Some may say this soul got his wings too soon, but that hasn't stopped him from having as much fun as he possibly can. When he used to brighten the room by laughing often and easily, you can be sure he now brightens the night sky with the sparkle in his eyes. His loved ones remember how he smiled as if he didn't have a care in the world, and carried his burdens as if they were just feathers. Now he has turned those feathers into a delightful set of wings. He was always an inspiration to those lucky enough to meet him, and words were never needed to see his giant heart. His courage was exceeded only by his strength, which was stronger than his tiny body may seem. Now he flutters across the sky, his wings stronger than before. Sometimes he misses his loved ones and swoops down to see them. Though he wishes he could give them one of his trademarked carefree grins, he can't help but smile at the look of confusion as he buzzes by them. With a tiny giggle, he does it again. He's so fast that they can't see him! With another giggle, he swoops down once more. There's what he was looking for! A smile! Oh it feels so good being a witness to that, being on the receiving end of a smile from a loved one! Now off to go play some more. He sure does love his new set of wings!

Guardian Angel

I’m sure there have been moments in your life where you have felt challenged beyond your control. Sometimes it may seem that your little body is not strong enough to handle the tough tasks it has been given. That’s where this little gnomette comes in. This tiny little guardian has a very big job! And she loves every moment of it! She flutters around looking for just the right person to help, somegnome who needs a word or two of encouragement. The gnomette has now found a beautiful soul in need of her tiny positive thoughts and she doesn’t hesitate to get to work quickly. She whispers so lightly in her new friend’s ear that she is barely audible, but she knows that’s all it takes for a reminder of the spark for life that still grows strong inside. With these tiny little whisperings of love and hope we are reminded that we are stronger than our bodies may seem. Life is good. Life is beautiful, and with this little lady by your side, that’s an easy thing to remember.

Guardian Angel

I’m sure there have been moments in your life where you have felt challenged beyond your control. Sometimes it may seem that your little body is not strong enough to handle the tough tasks it has been given. That’s where this little gnomette comes in. This tiny little guardian has a very big job! And she loves every moment of it! She flutters around looking for just the right person to help, somegnome who needs a word or two of encouragement. The gnomette has now found a beautiful soul in need of her tiny positive thoughts and she doesn’t hesitate to get to work quickly. She whispers so lightly in her new friend’s ear that she is barely audible, but she knows that’s all it takes for a reminder of the spark for life that still grows strong inside. With these tiny little whisperings of love and hope we are reminded that we are stronger than our bodies may seem. Life is good. Life is beautiful, and with this little lady by your side, that’s an easy thing to remember.

Remembering GNan

Just look at this little lady! Every ounce of her soul holds a special meaning and it's gno wonder she is so special! After all, it takes a special soul to have the role she has been granted. It's her job to not only look after the elder souls who have grown to be forgetful and can gno longer take care of themselves, but to look after their loved ones too. Her pink is for love that loved ones have for one another. Her purple is for courage to stay strong. Her blue is for the sadness they may feel in watching their loved ones slowly change. Her yellow is for hope for a cure so that others may gnot gneed to walk the same path. The silver teardrop on her face is for all the tears cried. Her butterfly is for all those magical moments which can be as simple as a smile or a big as a comforting hug. And finally, her heart of gold because it takes a big heart to handle all of that with grace and with love. So with such a great responsibility, this lady flutters from loved one to loved one, collecting all the tears they have cried and whispering tiny reminders that they are strong and and they are loved, even if it's difficult to remember at times. With every tear collected, a memory is restored. Take my GNan, for example... She was such an independent lady and always put her family above all else. She put the magic into the Christmas season with treating every single loved one to a special meal and thoughtful gift. Gno doubt it took all year to save up for each holiday memory, but the results were magic. Gnan had 3 children of her own, 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren and somehow she still managed to gnever forgot a birthday! The garden was a more magical place with GNan in it, and her memory, along with the memory of others with a similar fate, are captured by this fluttering soul. And because of that, our loved ones are gnever forgotten. We can think back on them with a great big smile and a warm feeling in our hearts.

The Magic of Pretty

The Gnomish community is always excited to include all their favorite things in everything they do, and of course gnomes just adore pretty things! That being said, it should come as gno surprise that the Gnomish Community has high standards for what it takes to be given the title of "pretty." They understand that being pretty takes more than just fluttering about with a friendly smile or an eye-candy appearance, though those things are fun too. If one truly deserves the title of being pretty, then they must truly make the garden around us a better place. When unexpected sad events happen, a pretty soul will combat the evil with acts of goodness as a reminder that love is more powerful than hate. And that's where the magic of being pretty lies - in order to be a truly beautiful soul, one must be pretty both inside and out. One must radiate love.

Guardian Angel

I’m sure there have been moments in your life where you have felt challenged beyond your control. Sometimes it may seem that your little body is not strong enough to handle the tough tasks it has been given. That’s where this little gnomette comes in. This tiny little guardian has a very big job! And she loves every moment of it! She flutters around looking for just the right person to help, somegnome who needs a word or two of encouragement. The gnomette has now found a beautiful soul in need of her tiny positive thoughts and she doesn’t hesitate to get to work quickly. She whispers so lightly in her new friend’s ear that she is barely audible, but she knows that’s all it takes for a reminder of the spark for life that still grows strong inside. With these tiny little whisperings of love and hope we are reminded that we are stronger than our bodies may seem. Life is good. Life is beautiful, and with this little lady by your side, that’s an easy thing to remember

Fairy Sparkles

It's well known that every gnome in the garden specializes in a specific trade. How else would you explain the variety in magic you see in the garden around you? Whether it be painting rainbows across the sky, or placing dew drops on the morning leaves, we owe it all to the fuzzy souls and their creativity. This little lady, known by her loved ones as Fairy Sparkles, has been searching far and wide, across the garden, for inspiration to learn her trade. After searching for what seemed to her to be a long long time (she's quite excited to get started), she has finally found the perfect match! She wants to become a fairy door maker! With a hop and a giggle, she flutters to her new home. You may wonder why she has picked such a niche style of magic, but the way she sees it there is nothing better than building a door way between the world of magic and the world of children. Whether a child is in need of help conquering a fear, or a safe place to put things, every child can use a bit of magic in their rooms. Fairy Sparkles absolutely loves hearing the stories about why someone wants a door, but even better is the knowledge that the door has helped a little one so much. The idea of creating a special door that will only work for a child just as special, and the thought of seeing them happy in their homes must make everything worthwhile! Children may eventually grow far too old for fairy doors and fairies, but if you ask me, a home filled with love will always have a place for a fairy door or two, or eight! And besides, there's a lot of magic between now and adulthood. There's so much work to be done! She's so excited to become an apprentice door maker that she can hardly contain her sparkles. It seems they're getting onto everything! When can she start?

My Beautiful Butterfly

Spend even one moment with this beautiful soul and it's easy to tell that she's quite unique! Gno doubt she loves with every ounce of her body, and those closest to her gnever doubt the love she has for them. She thrives on taking care of loved ones in her gnest and always seems to be fluttering around doing gnice little things for them. It's just who she is. It's all the subtle things - coffee made in the morning; all my things on the table waiting for me when I leave. It's gnot stuff I can't do myself, but it's really sweet and she wouldn't be happy if I didn't let her do it. If you ask me, there is gnothing more beautiful than this butterfly being happy. Though I admit, it's a little freakish how she's a total savant when it comes to knowing where things are. She flutters throughout the garden and sees EVERYTHING. "Huh, that's weird, what did I do with my toadstool?" I might say. She'll likely reply, "Take a look halfway down the stream, back behind the second rock, down in the meadow clearing... I saw it there this morning when I was feeding the snails. I don't know how she manages to do it! I love her for simply being HER, and gnot because of anything she does for me. I just love her simply because she's a good soul who fills this garden with an endless supply of love for anygnome lucky enough to know her.

Busy Working Bees

Buzz Buzz... Shhhh... do you hear that sound? It's a beautiful sound, isn't it? There might gnot be a better sound than that of busy bees bumbling about their daily lives. Recently the buzzing in the Manchester corner of the garden has been a bit more quiet than usual and if you ask me, the reasons for the silence are simply too complicated for me to understand. But one thing I do know with certainty, these two are so much stronger than their size may indicate! And it is great to hear these two working bees buzzing again! They love their hive dearly and I can gnot say I blame them. Their hive is full of strong souls, who share one love and each tiny buzzing soul working hard to do his small part to make the garden a better place. And gnow with these two souls back in the hive, the garden seems a bit more cheerful again. The garden has missed the buzzing sounds of your voices and the bright sight of your smiles. Gno doubt the garden is a sweeter place with you in it.

Guardian Angel

I’m sure there have been moments in your life where you have felt challenged beyond your control. Sometimes it may seem that your little body is not strong enough to handle the tough tasks it has been given. That’s where this little gnomette comes in. This tiny little guardian has a very big job! And she loves every moment of it! She flutters around looking for just the right person to help, somegnome who needs a word or two of encouragement. The gnomette has now found a beautiful soul in need of her tiny positive thoughts and she doesn’t hesitate to get to work quickly. She whispers so lightly in her new friend’s ear that she is barely audible, but she knows that’s all it takes for a reminder of the spark for life that still grows strong inside. With these tiny little whisperings of love and hope we are reminded that we are stronger than our bodies may seem. Life is good. Life is beautiful, and with this little lady by your side, that’s an easy thing to remember.

Changed Bee

I’m sure there have been moments in your life where you have felt challenged beyond your control. Sometimes it may seem that everything around you is going down a path you did gnot choose, and you start to wonder if you are strong enough to handle the tough tasks the garden has handed you. Believe it or gnot, there was once a time when this lady wondered those same things, but that didn't stop her from taking control of her life making the changes she deserved! And look at her gnow! Wow! What a changed bee she is! Gno doubt she has an extra sparkle in her eye and a little skip in her walk. And the best part? The changes are gnot only gnoticeable on the surface, but also much deeper. She is gnow taking care of the one gnome who deserves it the most - herself. Gnothing is more powerful! With a love like that, there is gnothing that can get in her way gnow! Watch out, garden! This changed bee is here to stay!

Sunflower Love

There once lived a little dragon who was in search of a place to call home. He searched and searched with very little success. Some places were too dark, but that would not do because this dragon was always looking towards the sun. Some places were too cold and stale, but the dragon knew she needed a warm and cozy place to hibernate for the winter. As his search progressed, one might think he would start to lose hope in finding the perfect home, but the dragon was brave. He never doubted. He knew that the magic would be there. He just had to keep looking for it. Then one bright and sunny autumn day he met a little girl and within minutes he knew he was home. The sunflower girl was always bright and cheerful, only seeing the best in those around her. It was apparent that she was always looking for ways to make her loved ones smile. She loved to give great big bear hugs and often wore her prized bear hat whenever she got sleepy enough to hibernate for a nap. And most importantly, the girl believed in magic. Whether it be knowing that a simple rock holds enough magic for good luck, declaring a windy path as "the pathway of happy" or creating a family of pine cone friends, the girl's imagination had no end. It didn't take long for the little dragon to know that this brave girl could give him the perfect home, and when she saw the dragon, her face lit up like the sunshine. It was love at first sight for the Sunflower Girl with the heart of a bear and the soul of a dragon. The dragon found what he was looking for. A place to call home and a kind soul to share it with him.

Rainbow Fairy

Meet the Rainbow Fairy. Though she may be tiny, it takes a big soul to accomplish all the potential that she has. She goes around and adds color to all the places that are grey. She is very magical and uses this skill to add magic to all the seasons. Perhaps you've seen the diamonds that glisten in the snow on a sunny day? Yep, you guessed it. That snow has been touched by her magic. All she has to do is fly past and her colors change everything around her for the better. She is special enough to light anygnome's life up. Just how does she do this, you might ask? Is it because of her magic wand? Or maybe it's the crown she wears on her head? I'll let you in on the secret, as long as you promise gnot to keep it. This rainbow fairy has a great imagination. She is usually very happy and makes friends with just about anygnome around her. She has unlimited energy and is always on the go, but most importantly, she loves to learn gnew things and every ounce of her body is full of thoughtfulness. Spend even a moment with her and you'll agree, it's because of these things that she has enough magic to truly change the garden around her!

Coloring contest entry by Chelsea (age 7)

Moon Sweeper

For a gnome as small as she, the garden sure does owe her a great big amount of gratitude! Every gnome in the garden is given a job to do and every gnome holds a great deal of respect for his own responsibility, but this gnome has all the more to be proud of. Only the biggest of souls could handle the job she has been given. She is responsible for keeping the sun and the moon in the sky above us. WHOA!!! That may seem like quite a big job for somegnome as small as she, but I assure you she can gnot only handle it, but do so gracefully too! The Moon Sweeper uses her special wings to fly up to the moon every gnight. Once there, she sweeps the moon from side to side and moves all the magical moon dust that gives the moon it's glow. Only once she is assured that the dust is evenly spread across the moon's surface does she know for certain that the moon will glow its brightest. Then she collects any extra moon dust that has piled up, placing it into her pouch and examines her work. But she's not through yet! There's still a lot of work to be done. She quickly zips across the sky to check on the sun. Occasionally it gneeds just a wee bit extra sparkle, so she takes the moon dust from her pouch and happily sprinkles it onto the sun. Without the dust, the sun would have gno glow. Oh my! Gnot a gnome in the garden denies how special this fuzzy soul is. For without her, there would be no sun or moon glowing down upon us.


Coloring contest entry by Willow (age 9)