Hello everybody. – Are you ready for spring? – I am. I am for the nice weather and the beautiful flowers, and gardens and of course our ROSES. Gretchen, our 2nd Vice President has already scheduled a number of Pruning Clinics around the city (see the calendar on the previous page for locations and times). If you think you need help, be sure to visit one of her scheduled events. Even if you are very experienced I think that there is always something new that you can learn! I am known for my collection of Garden Gnomes. I would like to share with you a story I’ve read. The gnome is a mythical creature. According to legend they are the most important “Elemental spirits of Earth”. Gnomes make it a life practice to do good deeds without recognition and they are ardent protectors of the environment. The Garden Gnomes are also known for practicing “random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” as Garden Gnomes know the benefit of “sowing kindness and harvesting love”. The first garden gnomes were made in Germany by Phillip Grebel back in the mid-1800s. Grebel made the terracotta decoration as a way for people to enjoy the stories of gnomes – especially the gnome’s willingness to help in the garden at night. Legend says they live up in the eaves and come down at night and do your gardening. (That is why they are depicted always with various garden tools.) When I heard that story I told my family that anytime they want to give me a present - GIVE ME GNOMES. Guess what – now I have about 25 Garden Gnomes and as you can see here I still have to do the PRUNING!