Everyone knows that I like Fiskars tools as well as folks at the company, but lately I have taken to getting some new orange tools from Black and Decker.
I got the little chain saw a few years ago and didn’t think much about it (love using it though).
Last year I was browsing the garden/yard tools aisle and noticed a bright orange, lightweight trimmer. I am not a big fan of trimming the edges of the lawn and with the old 2-stroke heavy duty knock-a-tree over trimmer, it took longer to start than it did to trim, so I didn’t do it. This new guy works on a little rechargeable battery. It is light, starts with just a touch of a button and does a decent job.Even changing the nylon chord is easy to do – just lift out the empty one, thread the wire through the hole and replace the cap. Yesterday I used it just to trim the heads of the dianthus. 3 minute job with one or two stops along the way.
Then enter, orange tool number two – the blower. This little guy works on the same battery pack so they are interchangeable. Again it starts with just the touch of a button and can be used for dusting leaves off steps, clearing pollen off the patio and diantus debris off the footpath. All little jobs that were major when the old 2-stroke engine machine had to come out. Did I mention the noise that the old machines made? Gone with the new lightweight ones.
The jobs I do are small and these things are handy but they do not do heavy duty clearing of damp wet leaves and the battery pack sometimes needs to be changed halfway through my ‘need to do list’, but or the price, they are terrific.

On the right: This set up uses a kind of hydroponic growing mechanism but the source of water comes from the fish tank below. The theory being that the fish water is enriched with nutirents, and that is sufficient for the plants. I forgot to ask if/what they feed the fish.

                         A Rabbit in the Garden                                 The Fish/Grow System

Check out the show and phone in, www/radiosandysprings.com

I don’t know about its ability to retain heat overnight, so right now the only things in there are the cool weather seedlings (cabbage and lettuces). The basil, tomatoes and peppers that have germinated, will spend the day their but be indoors overnight for a few more weeks.

The Flower House

Until then I am watching my little seedlings.  I finally sowed the first batch last Thursday, and some of them are already showing signs of germination. Mainly the lettuces and basil.  I realised when I was looking at them that I do not have a purple basil.  I will just have to order a bunch more seeds because just one packet, plus postage is a waste.  I wonder what else I will feel compelled to order?

Yesterday on the new radio show (www.radiosandysprings.com Americas  Home Grown Veggie Show ) we talked about sowing seeds, average first frost, and getting way too many seedlings – one of my failings.  The show was great fun, so take a listen when it is online.

One is quite delightful though, it is the new version of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds : http://www.rareseeds.com. This company is about a decade old and always had a simple catalogue filled with great vegetable seeds.  This year the catalogue is much larger and has been printed in full color on glossy paper.  The pictures and images are terrific and the whole presentation has been taken up a notch.  Where else would you get 16 full color pages just of tomatoes? They are classified in terms of color (green, red, orange,yellow, pink, purple and white) plus striped.  Even just picking one from each of these categories could yield a garden full of heirloom tomatoes!

There are also lots of other veggies and hierloom seeds as well.

The other catalogue is a long time favorite of mine – Bluestone Perennials:  www.bluestoneperennials.com. These people have been around for a long time and always have a great selection of old favorites plus newer varieties such as the Coconut Lime Echinacea.  If you enjoy perennials then this is a catalogue not to miss.

Of course all these are online, doubtless with lots more pictures, but you cannot circle your ‘must have’ selections when they are online, and you go past the page in search of the next best thing and forget what you liked three clicks back.

I suspect that the catalogues are pricey to produce and will become a thing of the past, but for now I miss them!

This week they have to stay inside, so they will be secure from the weather but the cats are rather curious – it is as though they think we brought the conveniences inside for them. 

Fortunately they will be back outside by the end of the week.

The tender plants take shelter from the first frosty night indoors.

By attending these events I have been inspired by people, made new friends, met old friends and attended a heap of fun lectures, not to mention seen amazing gardens both private and public.  I also found myself talked into serving on just one committee.

Hopefully some of the topics will appear on the blog in the next few weeks. So here are just two pictures that show the range of gardens – from a floriferous Rose Garden (Left) to a simple and elegant Japanese Garden (right). Both the gardens are in Portland, Oregon)

I picked up a white ginger from the swap, plus some Egyptian Walking Onions and a dianthus (pinks/carnations).  The ginger will get to about three or four feet high which will help hide the water barrel and downspout.