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?

ROSE BUZZ: 2016 Gift Ideas for Gardeners!

Link | November 26, 2016November 27, 2016 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

We as gardeners love what we do! But, the right tools 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! Plus, getting garden goodies in the middle of winter is just FUN!

Below are some garden gifts that I highly recommend you buy for yourself, your garden friends OR whisper in Santa’s ear so they show up around your Christmas tree or in your stocking! NOTE: Make sure you have a BIG STOCKING!

A YEAR IN MY ROSE GARDEN

Teresa Mosher has written a book that all rose gardeners will want on their Christmas list.

Teresa is President of the New England Rose Society, and one of the leading Garden and Rose Consultants in New England. This book is a wonderfully practical book that rose growers at every level will benefit from having! With this book comes the best gardening journal I have seen. Teresa has been so thorough with information that even a novice gardener could pick up this book and be good to go! From basic rose care information, a list of tools and supplies, rose terminology and ideas for garden design — it’s all there!

ORDER BOOK HERE.

To hear Teresa talk about her book and her gardening experiences, listen to a recent Rose Chat Podcast here…

COW POTS

All Natural Made with 100% Renewable Composted Cow Manure
CowPots stay intact for up to 12 weeks before planting in the ground
Roots easily penetrate the walls of CowPots.
Perfectly odor free

Available on Amazon here.

AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY TRIAL MEMBERSHIP

WHAT A VALUE!! All rose lovers will enjoy this gift! With a trial membership comes discounts at public gardens, copies of the ARS award winning magazine, American Rose, plus a ton of other benefits … all for only $10. Details at Rose.org.

HANDCRAFTED TOOLS

My good friend, Chris VanCleave, the Redneck Rosarian, has partnered with DeWit Tools to bring us a beautiful, handcrafted line of tools. These lovely tools come with a life-time guarantee and are destined to be heirloom pieces you will want to hand down to the next generation. Take a look at these beauties on Amazon.

THE GARDENER’S HOLLOW LEG

The Hollow Leg was given as door prizes at the Indianapolis Rose Society this year and everyone wanted to be a winner! So, even though the Hollow Leg appeared on last year’s list, I wanted to feature it again.

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.

A 15% discount!

FROM BOB: Tell your readers to use GHLUSER at check out for the discount!

To learn more or to buy online, read on.

Even Mr. H has the Hollow Leg Jr!!

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

The wonderful items on last year’s list are still available and you can read about them HERE.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Christmas is really the most wonderful time of the year!

ENJOY EVERY MINUTE!

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.

A Very Large Puzzle

March 27, 2011May 6, 2011 | Teresa / TheGardenDiary.com

It was colder than we expected. It was more windy than we expected. But, it wasn’t raining, so some brave friends joined us for the GREAT FLAGSTONE PROJECT…

At one point I counted 20 various rakes and shovels, a right angle grinder, a chisel, a recip saw, 2 steel mallets, a very large compactor (it weighed 250 lbs) and we needed all of them. Under Brad’s careful instruction, random puzzle pieces became a beautiful patio. Wanna see?

Ta-Dah…here it is…

This slideshow requires JavaScript.