GARDEN TOTES   These colorful Classic String Bags from Ecobags make it easy to collect and carry freshly harvested produce from the garden. Choose from certified organic cotton or natural cotton, vibrant colors or earth tones. The totes have 2?-wide shoulder straps, are machine washable, and hold up to 40 pounds each. Find them at ecobags.com.

POT LUCK   If you are someone who has a hard time remembering to water your houseplants, consider a pot that does the work for you. New and innovative, the Lechuza container features a reservoir that provides plants with sufficient water and nutrients for up to 12 weeks. An indicator lets you know when more water is needed. Pictured is the Windowsill Planter in high-gloss orange. It and other sizes, shapes and colors are available through The Green Room, (480) 946-2458.

BAG IT   Faster composting with less work is the idea behind the Compost Comfort Compost Bag. Constructed of permeable fabric, the sack keeps compost materials moist and well-aerated, creating the ideal environment for breaking them down. When additional moisture is needed, just pour water over the bag to soak in; to mix, simply flip the sack. Find it at compostcomfort.com.

ROSE LORE

What’s in a name? Names given to thousands of rose species have a great deal of meaning, according to authors Douglas Brenner, a former editor for Martha Stewart Living magazine, and Stephen Scanniello, a rose expert. Their book, A Rose by Any Name: The Little-Known Lore and Deep-Rooted History of Rose Names (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill), delves into the stories behind more than 40 species of this popular flower.

Each chapter presents a short narrative describing how a rose was named. For instance, a deep-pink hybrid rose was named after legendary figure Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf. As a child, flowers stimulated her intellectual curiosity, and despite her visual impairment, she was known to brave the prickly canes of a rose bush in order to learn the art of pruning. —Mary Modney



GARDEN TIP

When pulling weeds or invasive plants, carefully remove the entire plant so that seeds and roots are not transported to new areas where they can regenerate.