Adorable activism Jun 23, 2019

Adorable activism

In 1995, officials wanted to build a traffic roundabout in this area of the Ferguson Valley in Western Australia. Locals weren’t interested in seeing the wooded land paved over, but the roundabout was installed anyhow. In response, someone placed a garden gnome on the construction site—a form of guerilla-art protest. Other small bearded, pointy-hatted fellows soon joined the original settler. The newly arrived wee residents at least prevented further development in the area. For what manner of villain would destroy the forest home of a bunch of garden gnomes? Eventually there were hundreds of gnome figurines, and a roadside tourist attraction was created.

© Amanda Hughes/Alamy

palette

Today in History

Jun 23, 2018Commemorating peace in Antarctica
Jun 23, 2020Flowers by the sea
Jun 23, 2021Light show in the forest
Jun 23, 2022Stari Most in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jun 23, 2023Pollinator Week
Jun 23, 2024Dhaka, Bangladesh
Jun 23, 2025The Elbe in Dresden, Germany
Jun 23, 2026Mount Fuji on Honshu Island, Japan

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 14, 2020Tiny fliers head south
Feb 12, 2019To Roswell, and beyond!
Jun 21, 2026Happy Fathers Day!
Jul 16, 2021Whatever floats your boat
Jun 18, 2026Aerial view of the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, Cusco, Peru
Jun 8, 2019Diving into World Oceans Day
May 14, 2024Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico
Jun 4, 2022National Trails Day
Jun 15, 2024International Surfing Day
Feb 25, 2025Anniversary of Bryce Canyon National Park
Nov 21, 2025World Hello Day
Mar 4, 2018Australian baobab tree, Kimberley region, Western Australia
Nov 10, 2021Cumberland Island National Seashore
Dec 21, 2023Winter solstice
Mar 18, 2022Holi festival
Dec 15, 2022Borovets ski resort in Bulgaria
Nov 23, 2024Fibonacci Day
Jan 12, 2024Bukhansan National Park, South Korea
Nov 24, 2023Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
Jun 5, 2023World Environment Day
Feb 23, 2019A view from the top
Jan 10, 2018Weaverbird nests at Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve
Sep 17, 2023Cuban tody, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Cuba
Sep 13, 2025Point Reyes National Seashore in California
Apr 23, 2023World Book Day
Aug 13, 2023Perseid meteor shower over Oregon
Dec 11, 2025International Mountain Day
Dec 24, 2025Christmas Eve
Apr 18, 2026World Heritage Day
May 30, 2018‘The memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever’