April 2011 Picks for the Gardener

Author: Nancy Erdmann

Issue: April, 2011, Page 96

SAFE HAVEN Small birds can now dine in comfort without fear of bigger birds or squirrels getting into their food. The Globe Cage Feeder was designed with openings just big enough for finches, nuthatches and other small birds. Constructed of steel, it holds more than a pound of sunflower seeds. Drainage holes at the bottom keep seeds dry and fresh. To order, log on to Gardener’s Supply Company at gardeners.com.

PLUSH PATHWhat may look like soft vintage pillows strewn across the lawn are, in fact, concrete steppingstones. Called Tuffits™, the handcrafted garden accents can be used to create paths or whimsical decor for benches and chairs. They are designed in a variety of styles and colors, and can be washed with soap and water. And because the pigment is integrated into the cement, the “pillows” will not fade. Find them at tuffits.com.

TABLE ARTWedges of handmade tiles laid in a sunburst pattern make this table distinctive. Created by Scottsdale artist Vickie Morrow, the piece—titled Cosmic Burst—measures 30" in diameter and 29"H. Different versions of this one-of-a-kind piece can be ordered, or one can opt for an original design. Browse the artist’s collection at tileartmosaic.com, or call (602) 615-1146 for more information.

FRESH PICKSIf growing vegetables is on your to-do list, you will find helpful hints in Ron and Jennifer Kujawski’s Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook: Perfectly Timed Gardening for Your Most Bountiful Harvest Ever (Storey Publishing). The father/daughter duo organizes the book into weekly summaries of veggies to seed, maintain and harvest.

The two also share tricks such as choosing natural herbicides made from vinegar and clove oil to rid a garden of invasive weeds, and putting old pantyhose to work stabilizing tomato stems (we assume this is Jennifer’s idea, not Ron’s). Detailed illustrations make this easy-to-understand book a must-have for anyone interested in vegetable gardening. —LeeAnn DiSanti