Earth Day 2013

Mama gnome has not tended her gardenblog as much as she ought to.
Young gnomelets take up her time day and night.
But mother gnome would still like to share with you the gnome family's Earth Day endeavor for this year.
It swelled up her old gnome heart for it allowed her time to spend with one of her favorite earth creatures...trees.
The gnome family spent Earth Day 2013 with some of her favorite humans as well...Treepeople.

(c) friendlygnome.blogspot.com 

On this day, Treepeople, the gnome family, and other humans planted trees and tended to the young treelings that were already there.
The gnome family and their human family team had to prepare the tree root ball by teasing out the roots, smoothing them out and making sure the roots didn't wrap around so when the tree grows, the roots will be growing and spreading out as much as they should.

(c) friendlygnome.blogspot.com

 Mama gnome was giddy for the tree root smelled wonderful. The young tree we planted was a bay tree and this rootball smelled like bay leaves. Mother gnome's nose tingled and she smiled.

Who knew that one of the secrets of planting trees was the use of small feet to stamp down the earth around the spot where the tree was planted to compact the soil around the young tree.

(c)friendlygnome.blogspot.com 

Gnomes and humans had to haul big buckets of water back and forth to water all the newly planted trees plus all the other treelings.

After the planting, mulching, weeding, raking, and watering, the gnome family and humans settled down for a lunch box provided by the Treepeople.
Mama gnome ate a scrumptious veggie sandwich and a refreshing salad and...Mama gnome couldn't believe how big the cookie was! It was bigger than her hand.
Mother gnome assures you she had no trouble making that cookie fit in her mouth and in her stomach eventually.

After all the work was done, the humans left but not the gnome family. Mama gnome had heard from a treepeople person that there was actually a river nearby even though we couldn't see it from where we were. This was enough for the gnome family to explore and find the mystical river.
First we encountered horseshoe prints on the path.

Then we clambered up a hill to this chainlink fence and lo and behold this river made by humans.

Young gnomelets whooped and hollered with joy. Mama gnome and daddy gnome looked at each other and smiled. What a wonderful treat to find this.
Of course young gnomelets were not content to look from far away, the gnome family scrambled and ambled slowly and carefully down to the river's edge and was even more surprised to see these...

Can you spot the ducks in flight?

 Crane and ducks had no trouble getting along.

The river and vegetation merged beautifully along this spot.

Daddy gnome and young gnomelets were happy to spot this foxtail growing so well along the river's edge.
Such a picturesque spot don't you think. Now what would mar this vision?
Mama gnome's bane of her existence, Plastic Bag Monster, had its minions in the river as well.

This is part of what drives Mama gnome and the gnome family to battle several times a year against Plastic Bag Monster and its minions.

This is the young tree, the gnome family helped plant. We will visit her soon to see how she if faring.

Mama gnome hopes you would join the gnome family and become tree guardians as well.
Please make everyday an Earth Day and drive Plastic Bag Monster to eternal oblivion, and go green.

(c) text and all pictures friendlygnome.blogspot.com

Let the Trees Chase your Cares Away on Earth Day 2013

Earth Day 2013

Mama gnome crouched down as she rummaged in the trunk by the bed. She was busy looking for gnomelets' trusty battle garments.
Yes, the gnome family will be going to battle once more this year for Earth Day 2013.
Battle plans had been drawn, perused over, and agreed upon by all members of the gnome family.

This Saturday, April 20th, at precisely 0600 hours, the gnome family will pile into the trusty gnome car and traverse the lands to participate in tree planting, weeding, mulching, sweeping, cleaning, and any other ing activities involved in forest rehabilitating with the human group, well named as Treepeople.

Mama gnome looks forward to Earth Day every year and indeed she urges you to participate in any way you can and perform a single act of green. Visit earthday.org to find more information.

As one of Mama gnome's favorite humans, John Muir, said, "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."

Please make every day an Earth Day, let all your cares be chased away by the trees...and go green.

(c) friendlygnome.blogspot.com

video by NASAexplore

Mystery Animal of the Day

It has been a while since young gnomelets have seen a Mystery Animal and so Mama gnome presents the Mystery Animal of the Day.

This animal feeds with its beak upside down. It is especially adapted to filter feed on blue green algae and very tiny shrimp.

To the ancient Egyptians, this bird was the living representation of the god Ra.

This animal is able to stand on one leg most of the time while it displays its bright plumage ranging from pink to bright red.

If you had guessed the Mystery Animal of the Day is the flamingo, Mama gnome congratulates you and reminds you, Earth Day is coming up on April 22, 2012.

photo by: LadyofHats

There are six species of flamingos.
First, the Greater Flamingos which are found in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Second are the Lesser Flamingos which are found in Africa and India. The Lesser Flamingo has the biggest population of all flamingos.
Third are the James's Flamingos found in the High Andes in Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia.
Fourth are the Andean Flamingos also found in the High Andes of Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia.
Fifth are the Chilean Flamingos found in the temperate areas of South America.
Sixth are the American Flamingos found in the Caribbean and Galapagos islands.

Flamingos spend a lot of time standing on one leg and it has been proposed by scientists that they do this to conserve body heat or regulate their body temperature especially when they are standing in water.

"The Asian and southern African populations are partially migratory, with many making regular movements from their breeding sites inland to coastal wetlands when not breeding."

Flamingos are obligate filter feeder and they feed mainly during the night or early morning when the water is relatively calm. They filter the mud and water to feed on algae near the surface.

One cool thing, Mama gnome was excited to learn about, is that flamingos will form a large feeding flock to "create calm water for feeding near the center of the flock." Because of their very precise diet of mostly blue-green algae, they feed in alkaline lakes, salt pans, and saline lagoons, and estuaries.

Baby flamingos are born with gray plumage which change color as they grow older because of their diet.

Flamingos are social birds and live in colonies in thousands which help protect them from predators and to facilitate feeding.

Here is a beautiful video by BBCWorldwide:



According to the IUCN, flamingos' main breeding sites in Africa "are threatened by proposed soda-ash mining and hydro-electric power schemes."

Flamingos are also threatened by "land-claim, water pollution, and disturbance, and there are fears that the population at Lake Bogoria is suffering from malnutrition."

Andean flamingos are threatened by "egg collecting...with thousands taken annually, mining activities, unfavourable water-levels (owing to weather and manipulation), erosion of nest-sites and human disturbance may also affect productivity."

A few years ago, thousands of flamingos were dying along the lakes of Kenya and Tanzania. Researchers said possible causes included "avian cholera, botulism, metal pollution, pesticides or poisonous bacteria."

Mama gnome and gnomelets were terribly saddened by this. It was enough for the gnome family to see red...not pink!

Mama gnome asks you to do your part to help save flamingos and other marine animals and birds by participating in the annual Coastal Cleanup Day.

Please help save flamingos and paint the landscape pink by going green.
(c) Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Gnomes and Humans Plant Trees for Earth Day 2011

The gnome car faithfully hugged the road on the side of the mountain.

Daddy gnome asked, "Are we going the right way?"

Mama gnome said, "Hmmmm..." She stared out at the window, mesmerized by the rolling dips and gorges.


Daddy gnome said, "Ehemm... Mama gnome? Are we going the right way?"

"What? Oh...let me see..."Mama gnome's stubby finger followed the wriggly lines. "Looks like it." Mama gnome sat up straight. She felt quite at ease with the map.

The wrinkly paper was an old friend.

The computer on the other hand...always played mind games on the old gnome. She didn't trust that whiny gps voice either.

Give me a map any day, Mama gnome always thought.

It was important the gnome family didn't get lost on this special day, Earth Day 2011.

They had a special date with humans, tree loving humans, as it were.

"Trees!" Gnomelets who were quietly sitting in the back of the gnome car burst into sudden movements of waving and pointing at these:


Elder gnomelet said, "They look strange, Mama. They're black and they don't have leaves."

Younger gnomelet said, "No leaves."

Mama gnome said, "I'm afraid so, little ones. There was a fire here last year. That's why we're here. Somebody's got to do something about it."

Soon, this came into view:


By the by, the gnome family, made it to the campsite.

Mama gnome kept her fingers crossed. Time and time again, she'd been disappointed by the smallish number of humans she'd seen at events like: Coastal Cleanup Day and 350.org's International Day of Climate Action.

The gnome family were greeted by this wondrous being.


Of course Mama gnome and young gnomelets proceeded to hug it tremendously.

Mama gnome's trepidation disappeared.

There were more humans here than Mama gnome had seen at previous ecoevents.

She beamed at the tall human lady with the sign up sheet.

The gnome family were given strict instructions to wear a hard hat at all times even during breaks.

Daddy gnome deftly adjusted the hard hats for the young ones and soon the gnome's pointy hats were squashed underneath the yellow roundish hats.

Mama gnome kept a firm grip on younger gnomelet's hand and Daddy gnome took older gnomelet's hand.

The trek was quite daunting...slippery slopes covered with ash, rocky dips, and over streams.

Mama gnome's small heart pounded, fearful for the quite short young gnomelets' legs.

But they did her proud. The young gnomelets marched on without a single complaint.

At times, the gnome family over took humans who had to stop and rest.

Along the way they saw:

Charred remains of a burnt tree...


A bleak mountaintop that looks like a desert...



Sad muses of trees...


More burnt trees on a rocky slope...



Mama gnome didn't know what they were before but now they looked like giant burnt pineapples.



After over an hour of hiking on rough terrain, a tree loving human gave instructions on how to plant the saplings to give the young trees the best chances of survival.

The kindly human instructor said, the trees had a survival rate of 75%.


The humans and the gnome family went to work.

Here was Mama gnome's secret weapon...

Older gnomelet aka super ecowarrior.

She scoffs at the face of ecoenemies...and deals them a terrible blow with her tiny hands.




After what seemed like hours of work,the gnomes were tired and thirsty.

Other humans had left already. But the gnomes stayed and carried out what they set out to do. They finished planting the young trees on the bleak mountain.

Afterward they faced an even more daunting task, the hike back.

The gnome family climbed up steep inclines, held on to rocky crevices, and found footing on ash covered ground.

With faces covered with soot and ash, and bones and muscles weary, the gnomes encountered a gentle creature who bade them go on.



Finally, they spotted the campsite.


When the gnome family reached the campsite, the Forest Ranger and the leader of tree humans applauded the young gnomelets. The youngest participants for the tree planting event made the biggest impression.

Elder gnomelet said, "Mama, my cheeks are red."

Mama gnome said, "You did good, my love. You did good."

It was close to three in the afternoon and the gnomes were famished having missed lunch.

The young gnomelets cheered when they discovered...a giant cookie in their lunch boxes.

Mama gnome was very impressed with the lunch box made from recycled paper.

NO PLASTIC OR STYROFOAM in sight. And she was grateful for the vegetarian sandwich.



After their meal, the young gnomelets made wishes at the stream, throwing pine cones into the water.

Mama gnome made her own wish...a not so secret wish for more trees.

Mama gnome wishes all humans would help make Earth Day everyday, make her wish come true and go green...

(c) all photos and text by Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Trees for Earth Day 2011

This Saturday, April 23, the gnome family will travel to a forest that was ravaged by fire last year.

The gnome family will meet up with humans to help plant trees in honor of Earth Day 2011.

Please celebrate Earth Day 2011 by doing one single act of green.

Together, humans and gnomes can contribute to a billion acts of green for planet earth.


video from: thechriscarsonshow

Please visit Earth Day Network's A Billion Acts of Green

Make each day earth day and go green.

(c) Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Mystery Animal of the Day

Young gnomelets have kept Mama gnome very occupied.

And it is the older gnomelet who asked, "Mama, how come you don't have a new Mystery Animal?"

And so sheepishly, Mama gnome presents the Mystery Animal of the Day.

This animal has the "strongest bite per unit body mass of any living mammal."

It is a marsupial, a relative of the kangaroo.

But unlike the kangaroo who is a herbivore, this Mystery Animal is carnivorous.

It feeds on carrion and preys on small mammals to a small kangaroo, wombats, birds, fish, frogs, reptiles, fruit.

It's a very noisy eater...so noisy...thus contributing to how it was named...the little devil.

If you've guessed the Mystery Animal of the Day is the Tasmanian Devil, Mama gnome would like to congratulate you and she hopes you will participate in A Billion Acts of Green, Earth Day 2011 on April 22, 2011.

Tasmanian Devil at Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria, Australia.

photo by: arndbergmann

The Tasmanian Devil is found in Tasmania, Australia's island and state.

It has a large head and neck. It has black fur and usually white patches on its chest and lower back. It's stocky and muscular.

It has a keen smell and is also described as having a "pungent smell."

The name Tasmanian Devil has a long history.

Mama gnome will not recount all the names but to give you an idea as to how this animal was named Tasmanian Devil...here it goes...

First named in 1807 Didelphis ursina, "meatloving bear."

Then later also renamed Sarcophilus harrisii,"Harris's meat lover."

Then "Beelzebub's pup was an early vernacular name given to it by the explorers of Tasmania, in reference to a religious deity who is a prince of hell and an assistant of Satan."

Other names used were Sarcophilus satanicus "Satanic meatlover" and Diabolus ursinus "diabolical bear."

Mama gnome would like to rename them as "Poor animalus creaturus name-mes just because it likes to eat loud-es and a eat a lot-es."

The Tasmanian Devil is an endangered animal.

According to the IUCN, its population has decreased by more than 60% in the last ten years.

One of the major threats to this animal is a terrible infectious cancer called the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD).

The disease is spread between animals especially during the mating season and when they are feeding because of injurious biting.

DFTD is an "aggressive non-viral transmissible parasitic cancer" and the afflicted animal develops lesions and lumps around the mouth which spread to the rest of its body.

The animal is unable to feed and dies of starvation.

Another threat to the Tasmanian Devil is the red fox which was illegally introduced to Tasmania
for reasons including fox hunting which is another terrible crime. (And Mama gnome talks about fox hunting in detail here, another Mystery Animal.)

According to IUCN, other threats to the Tasmanian Devil is being killed on the roads by vehicles, being killed by dogs, and from persecution.

Persecution according to IUCN:

"Through the 1980s and 1990s, systematic poisoning in many sheep-growing areas (particularly fine-wool with its reliance on merinos) was widespread and probably killed in excess of 5000 devils per year (N. Mooney unpubl., from interviews with landowners). In the 1990s, control permits were occasionally issued to individuals who were able to argue that Tasmanian Devils were pests (e.g. killing valuable lambs)."




video from: NationalGeographic


Please read about the Tasmanian Devil's plight and visit WWF and also Save the Tasmanian Devil Program.

Mama gnome would now screech loudly, change her name to Gnomeus Eat-A-Lot-es-chocolate-us, and nip terrible humans who poison the Tasmanian Devil.

Please be the loud devil-may-care human in the planet and go green.

(c) 2009-2011 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog

Earth Day 2010

Mama gnome told young gnomelets, "This coming Thursday will be Earth Day."

Older gnomelet said, "Mama, we need to make signs."

Yes, older gnomelet is Mama gnome's ecowarrior. She was Mama gnome's secret weapon against Plastic Bag Monster when Mama gnome took on Plastic Bag Monster on the 14th day of September in the year two thousand and nine.

This Thursday, September 22, 2010, will be the 40th year Anniversary of Earth Day.

Mama gnome and the gnome family will be wearing green, eating green and acting "green" on that day.

Green as in Eco-super-duper-nifty-sing-on-rolling-hills-green.

How can we be green on Earth Day?

Make it a meatless day.

Becoming vegetarian is one of the most significant acts to helping the environment.

According to this post:

"The United Nations have concluded that meat production is responsible for around 18% of global CO2 emissions. 5,214 gallons of water are required to produce a single pound of beef, and the EPA estimates that more than 27,000 miles of US rivers have been polluted by livestock waste. Individually, you could make a great deal of change by putting down the meat and going vegetarian."

Avoid driving if you can or limit the amount of driving you do.

Turn off all unnecessary lights and electric gadgets. The gnomelets are excited. Brushing their teeth and bedtime story are so much more interesting when it's by candlelight.

Please do not use plastic bottles, plastic bags or disposable plates, spoons, forks, napkins and other throw away products.
Plastic Bag Monster cannot wait to amass more minions to gather in landfills and in our oceans.

Plant something. Herbs in the kitchen, window box, a tree, flowers. Daddy gnome is going over plans for the gnome family's vegetable garden. Mama gnome will keep you posted on how this project is going.

Visit Earth Day Network.

Please watch this.




video from: JckSwan


Mama gnome wishes everyday is Earth Day.

Please make it so and Go Green!

(c)2010 Jenaelha, Friendly Gnome's Blog