Garden porn
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Christmas, General care | 9 comments
Photo: Edging tool and cloche
“Have you got a list of the props that you want for Christmas?” Danny’s words had me switching on the laptop in a trice.
Danny calls my gardening tools props as he doesn’t really believe that I use them all. He claims that they are mostly there for show. I must admit I do have a weakness for gardening tools and equipment. And have been known to splash out on something that was never really used – like my beautiful topiary shears
One of my favourite 2009 tools is a border edger that I bought after John retired. It has a good old fashioned cottage smallholdery feel. Before I had edged with a spade just as John did but this little tool makes the whole operation faster. I found on my travels across the internet that you can actually buy motorised lawn edgers. These are either battery operated or fuelled with petrol – a bit out of my price range at the moment. My edger combined with the edging shears keeps the borders in shape in the kitchen and herbaceous garden. And between bouts stands looking decorative on the edge of a border in the warmer weather. It was allowed out of the shed for the photo shoot today and then carefully hung up again.
Seraphina bought me a gorgeous Burgon and Ball greenhouse sieve or potting riddle
This year I have asked for gardening equipment for Christmas. I spent a happy afternoon on the Harrod Horticultural site, making a list as my mum is giving me gardening presents too. The biggest present is this lovely leather kneeler that I know would be used constantly and become a real friend. In case you are wondering, I chose brown.
Danny was very keen on this prop as it would stop all the kitchen scissors disappearing into the garden never to be seen again. And somehow the ball of twine always gets lost too.
My dibber (nasty green plastic) is also lost. This wooden one would be a great replacement.
I have never used a pot tamper and was seduced by this hand turned one in Jekyll yew.
And the last essential prop on the list is this seed and planting ruler. I’ve oogled this in several garden centres and made do with an old sewing tape. The great thing about this gadget is that it will make seed planting so much easier and far less wasteful.
And of course there are those overshoes.
As I spend so much time in the garden Danny jokingly suggested this allotment box would be handy. But even I can’t justify buying this although it’s a very neat idea.
And what did Danny want for Christmas? A pair of winter boots for Paris bought an hour before he left on Monday. He had to have his Christmas socks early too as none of his seem to match anymore. Perhaps the socks, the scissors, the dibber and the balls of twine are all conniving to fill any gaps in our Christmas lists.
A large parcel has just been delivered from Harrod Horticultural. With D away it’s very tempting to have a little peek…
Leave a reply
Hi KateUK
I totally agree a lawn edger is a great tool and makes edging far faster than using a spade.
Hi Joanna
I know that I could make one but I just don’t want to 🙂
Hi Ruthdigs
I thnk that we need to run another competition in the spring. I wonder if Harrod Horticultural would sponsor one. Now there’s a thought!
Very definitely an item of beauty from the picture but I can’t justify for myself sadly. Perhraps one of your lords could get me one?!!
“But this isn’t just a wooden ruler with holes in. It has plant spacing information and it is an object of beauty!” – Nothing that a bit of paint couldn’t sort. :oD
Lawn edger =super tool, one of the most useful, makes the garden look so much better when the beds have sharp edges, even if they aren’t in particularly good shape!
Hi Ruth
It’s expensive but I did take a peep at it (just to check it wasn’t damaged!) and it’s beautifully made. It’s quite long too.
I reckon that you could make one easily.
Hi Jo
Yes we must have borrowers. The socks could be made into winter duvet covers and rugs. Can’t imagine what they’d use the scissors for.
Hi Joanna
Nice one – wider to do more rows! But this isn’t just a wooden ruler with holes in. It has plant spacing information and it is an object of beauty!
Hi Tamar
I think I’d go with the lords – one might come with a motorised lawn edger!
I never would have thought to ask for a motorized lawn edger for Christmas (okay, I’m Jewish, but that’s not the reason), but I think it would make an excellent gift, and way more practical than, say, 10 lords a leaping.
If it is just a wooden ruler why not use any thin planking material to put holes in or even leftover laminate? In fact if you use something a bit wider you could do two or even three rows at a time.
I think you have borrowers! we have them in our house too…I wonder what they use kitchen scisors and socks for?
Ooh – I like the seed planting rule but it’s quite a lot isn’t it? Right – my next task is scouring local junk shops / car boot sales etc to find an old wooden rule I can drill holes in. Failing that a length of batten marked off, drilled and varnished I reckon. I always get inspired by you Fiona, for which I thank you.