May Products for the Gardener

Author: Nancy Erdmann

Issue: May, 2011, Page 118

HANDY HELPER
Awakening Hands Mineral Moisture Therapy is designed to hydrate, soothe and protect skin—something many gardeners desire after a hard day working in the yard. Only a pearl-size drop is needed to treat both hands. The concentrated formula has a smooth, non-greasy finish that is never sticky. Find it at Southwest Gardener, Phoenix, southwestgardener.com.

SINK SAVER
While most finished gardens look natural, colorful and pulled-together, getting to that point often involves a lot of dirt. To help keep the mud and mess outdoors, Stone Forest introduces the all-weather Salus Potting Sink. Its base is made of sustainable hardwood, and the basin is carved from blocks of black granite and designed to keep potting messes contained. Sinks can be found at Benjamin Supply, Tucson, benjaminsupply.com.

HAT TRICK
Style meets sun protection with the Brim Hat from Angela’s Garden. The fashionable headgear has an ultraviolet protection factor up to 45, meaning it blocks out 97 percent of the sun’s rays. An adjustable crown and side snaps allow conversion from standard to cowboy style, while a drawstring with toggle keeps it in place. The machine-washable hat comes in several colors and designs. Find it at angelas-garden.com.

HOMEGROWN
Jennifer R. Bartley serves up the simple pleasures of sustainable gardening in The Kitchen Gardener’s Handbook (Timber Press). Through detail-oriented care guides, Bartley explores methods for cultivating and cooking homegrown vege-tables, or “peasant food,” as she calls it. Included are design plans for year-round gardening. Bartley also offers overviews of different plant species, growing periods, and suggested placement of such low-maintenance staples as nasturtium (a flower that fares well in poor soil), along with other plants that can handle the heat, including peppers, tomatoes and cilantro. —LeeAnn DiSanti