End of An Era

Link | April 2, 2017January 20, 2018 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

Well, I have come to the end of a 20-year-long era–my Smith and Hawkins boots. Remember Smith and Hawkins? Hope you were able to visit one. We had a beautiful Smith and Hawkins store in Indianapolis. I can’t tell you how many dates Mr. G and I had there. He always knows the way to my heart. Even in the dead of a dark, cold Indiana winter, it was spring at Smith and Hawkins. I bought my first REAL garden boots there, actually Mr. G bought them for me. (TRUE LOVE!)

The first pair lasted 10 years and the 2nd pair is coming up on 10 years. The second pair was bought at Target who carried a few things from the Smith and Hawkins line for a while. Seriously, these boots really should have been replaced last year, but I held on hoping that whoever decided to close all the Smith and Hawkins stores, would come to their senses and open again!

Here are my beloved boots in better days. Standing by the door ready to go at a moments notice.

The first issue in the replacement process is giving them up.

The second issue is their replacement. So many options.

I have made a decision to buy these beauties. Are they over the top ???

Time will tell if I have made the right decision—I ordered online. But, I do like the look of them. What do you think? I probably should have sent out an APB to all of you to ask for recommendations, but I am hopeful. Just in case, if you have a suggestion please leave a comment!

Today was the last day for the boots and we made it a doozy!

My plan was a bit “ambitious” for a day with time constraints and “old” boots. But we did it … all I had planned and more!

I guess you could say that these boots (and I quote my good friend and Rose Chat partner in crime, the Redneck Rosarian) are “worn slap out”!

Here’s picture of me and my boots a few years ago… TIRED. DIRTY. HAPPY.

Do you get attached to things?

Whisper these gift ideas in Santa’s ear…

Link | December 5, 2015December 5, 2015 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

We as gardeners love what we do! But, the right tool can make all the difference and Christmas is the perfect time to share ideas with Santa to get just what we want and need for the coming growing season!

Below are some garden gifts that I highly recommend you buy for your garden friends OR whisper in Santa’s ear so they show up around your Christmas tree or in your stocking!

THE GARDENER’S HOLLOW LEG…

Bob Blomberg’s Gardener’s Hollow Leg^® makes yard and garden clean up tasks easier! This handy “hands-free” debris holder is a must have for all pruning, weeding and harvesting tasks.

To learn more or to buy on line, read on … http://thegardenershollowleg.com/welcome.html

THE RING WEEDER

Vinnie Suozzi’s Ring Weeder has a forked tip that pierces the ground with ease allowing you to loosen the soil around the weed to “pluck” it out without breaking off the root of the weed. Made of light weight high strength injection molded ABS plastic, The Ring Weeder allows you to get your weeding done swiftly.

For the details of how this product found it’s place in the garden, read on…HERE.

Listen to Vinnie tells his inspiring story HERE.

MOO POO TEA

Annie Haven’s Moo Poo Tea has been a staple in my garden for many years. Whether I am using it to soak my bare root roses or bulbs before planting or adding moo poo tea to the over all care of all my plants in containers and in the ground, moo poo makes a major difference!

Try it for yourself … HERE. Shipping is always free!

BARNEL PRUNERS AND BIONIC GLOVES FROM WENDY TILLEY, THE ROSE GARDENER

Who doesn’t want to be more bionic in the garden. I am convinced that without my Barnels and my bionic gloves … I would have a major loss of power!

Read all about these amazing tools and many more on Wendy’s website HERE.

Listen to Wendy give you the background stories, HERE.

And, what about a membership to an organization that is near and dear to my heart!?!

If you know someone who is interested in knowing more about roses, now is a great time to give them a trial membership to the American Rose Society.

You’ll receive discounts at public gardens, copies of their award winning magazine, American Rose, plus a ton of other benefits … all for only $10.

Details at Rose.org.

Christmas is really the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.

ENJOY EVERY MINUTE!

A no kink garden hose? Really?

May 23, 2015May 22, 2015 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

As you can imagine these big boy roses behind me need a drink now and then, and they are going to be getting a drink while I make a garden fashion statement. The amazing no kink (yes no kink) Flexilla garden hose now comes in a variety of colors. I chose CRAZY FOR COCOA. It fits in so well with my cottage garden landscape. No kink and safe to use for drinking! Check them out. I think you just might need to make a garden fashion statement too while you are making the chore of watering your plants much easier!

I already have one of these hoses in the original Flexilla green so I know they work for me, but there is more you might want to know…

Flexzilla hoses feature a Premium Hybrid Polymer material that redefines flexibility.
Flexzilla hose characteristics offer zero memory allowing it to lay-flat exactly where you drop it and won’t work against you during operation or coiling after use.
Flexzilla offers extreme all-weather flexibility, even in sub-zero conditions. Flexzilla is currently in use by oil companies located in Alaska!
Check them out on Facebook here.

There a color just perfect for you... — There is a color just perfect for you! Maybe you will choose Coral Candy–I almost did!

Tools of the Trade

November 23, 2013November 23, 2013 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

My good friend, Wendy Tilley, TheRoseGardener.com, and her husband, Ryan, have a garden of 350 roses and a business of caring for 85 rose gardens in the Atlanta area. So, they made it their goal to find gardening tools to make their job easier, more fun and give them the ability to be gardeners for a long, long time. This goal led them to some wonderful products for gardeners. Some of these products I already have and highly endorse, and others are high on my Christmas list. (Hey Santa!)

First up is a product that I’ve used for more than 20 years–

Harlane rose markers... — Harlane rose markers…

Harlane Plant Labels … read all about them here.

Barnel Pruners

Blade features include high carbon sword steel produced with a hard chrome finish and cold forged blade process.
Anodized finish repels sap.
Pressure injection die cast handles/body.
Drop forged heavy duty steel handles/body.
Self oiling center bolt for ease of maintenance.
Patented two-position lock for reduced effort.
“Auto-Unlock” – squeeze handles to automatically unlock shear.
Ergonomic TPR (thermoplastic rubber) non-slip grips.
Rotating handle reduces fatigue.

Bionic Gloves...

Bionic technology was first developed for hockey gloves, and evolved to batting gloves, catcher’s mitts and first-base mitts.

This technology is available in garden classic, garden extended-wear, driving/dress, golf and heavy duty gloves.

And, they are machine washable! Read more.

Easy Arrangers … Grids that fit over the top of vases. I have these and they really work! For more details, read on.

Wendy has many other great products for gardeners like the Muletto garden cart and even cute little rose purses!

Check them out here.

ROSE CHAT RADIO GUEST…

I had the pleasure of talking with Wendy on the Rose Chat Podcast. To hear all about Wendy, how she and Ryan got started growing roses, their products and garden advice, listen here.

WENDY SIGHTINGS…

Wendy travels around the South East to garden shows and holiday markets. Click here for Wendy’s schedule. You can also find Wendy on Facebook (here) and Twitter @thegarose.