SUN-POWERED   Take advantage of the summer sun and enjoy the gentle sound of running water with the Solar Cascade Terracotta Mosaic Fountain. The four-tier recirculating water feature operates in direct sunlight and is run by a low-voltage water pump that is powered by a solar panel. The fountain stands 201/2 inches high and requires no wiring. Find it at mysolarshop.com.

BIRD LURE To encourage hummingbirds to nest in your garden, Songbird Essentials offers a little enticement: Hummer Helper Nesting Material. The all-natural raw-cotton product is similar to other soft materials that female hummingbirds use to line their nests. Housed in a red wire cage—a color that attracts hummers—the nesting material can be hung in the yard where the tiny birds can pluck the cotton. Find it at songbirdessentials.com.

HEAVY HAULER Homeowners looking to do some labor-intensive garden work will find that Lifetime’s Yard Cart is more than just a wheelbarrow—it’s also a towable trailer. Designed to haul heavy loads of topsoil or building materials, the cart has a push handle that can be converted into a towing hitch and attached to a riding mower. Made of 100-percent post-consumer recycled material, the Yard Cart is available at select Sam’s Club stores, or at lifetime.com.

Photo by David B. Moore

TOUGH STUFF

Bringing structure and visual interest to a landscape can be as easy as planting succulents. Such low-maintenance plants as agave, ice plant and kalanchoe thrive in many regions and are quite resilient, making them natural choices for harsh desert environments, according to horticulturalist and author Gwen Moore Kelaidis.    

Her book Hardy Succulents: Tough Plants for Every Climate (Storey Publishing) outlines how to select, grow and maintain succulents, with topics ranging from potting to propagation. When grown in containers, succulents typically need less than half the water that potted tropical plants or annuals require, the author writes. —Mary Modney



GARDEN TIP
Make the best use of rainwater by directing downspouts and gutters toward shrubs and trees.