Residents of Sunnyvale’s Maple Street woke up to a puzzling sight on Tuesday morning: a line of garden gnomes arranged along the sidewalk, stretching from one end of the block to the other. Each gnome appeared to be walking in the same direction, creating what some are calling “The Great Gnome Migration.”
Longtime resident Tim Potsky, whose yard gnome collection was affected, first noticed the unusual arrangement around dawn. “I went to bed, and they were all in my yard. Next morning, they’re lined up like they’re heading somewhere!” he said.
Local teens, the usual suspects in pranks around town, deny any involvement, leaving residents scratching their heads. Maple Street residents have begun sharing theories on social media, ranging from extraterrestrial involvement to an underground gnome society staging a “silent protest.”
Sunnyvale’s Parks and Recreation Department announced they are investigating the “migration” to determine if it was a prank or a community art project gone rogue. In the meantime, neighbors are keeping an eye on their gnomes, wary of any further mysterious movements.