Handmade Scandinavian Gnome — Herbalist

The morning light fell peacefully through the glass roof of the greenhouse, waking its inhabitants. From the first ray of sun life was already bustling there: some sleepily unfolded their leaves, some stretched toward the warmth, others wound swiftly around posts or green neighbours. But the most energetic of all was the Herbalist gnome. Cheerful, in a light sandy cloak and his favourite hat, he was hurrying to his green charges from early morning. As a rule, in his little bag were notes with medicinal recipes and a few vials of remedies for those who had taken ill.

Today the gnome had brought along a bottle of magic "Root-Grow" of his own invention. In the gnome's greenhouse lived plants he had rescued from the forest, in need of constant care, as well as the rarest, most capricious and demanding of them all.

Perhaps you have already noticed the strange big-eyed little root sitting on the gnome's hand? That is a Mandrake — a rare magical plant. The Herbalist grows them in his greenhouse so that, once they grow strong, he can release them into the forest. But one Mandrake flatly refused to leave. And the gnome grew so fond of it that now they are rarely apart. The Mandrake he carries everywhere has a name — written in his notes in a cipher no one has managed to decode. The plant reacts to being spoken to, which the Herbalist explains by proper care. Whether it understands is a separate question he carefully avoids answering in its presence.

Plants love their caring rescuer so much that they reach toward him with all their little roots. One mischievous green creature even crept into the pocket of his cloak and now cheerfully peers out from there.

When all the glass house's inhabitants are watered, checked and tended, the Herbalist sets off into the forest. That is where his main work awaits. On the gnome's shoulders rests the care of all the forest's countless plants: from the grass in the woodland glade to the vast ancient oaks. But the Herbalist carries out his work with enthusiasm and dedication, for his kind heart is filled with love for all living things. And so the caring gnome knows no weariness. To embrace the whole forest — what could be more joyful?

The Mandrakes the Herbalist tends in his greenhouse have their own dedicated home — you can meet them in the Mandrakes collection.