March 2013 Picks for the Gardener

Author: Nancy Erdmann

Issue: March, 2013, Page 146

CREATURE COMFORTSSmall birds looking for a cozy place to nest will find these one-of-a-kind handcrafted Nesting Bird Pods a perfect spot. Made with 100-percent wool, the knitted or felted birdhouses are shaped, and then embellished with bird feathers, acorns, leaves or whatever else Phoenix artist Caren Gomez dreams up. Her whimsical pieces are made in a variety of colors and have been known to attract finches, sparrows and hummingbirds. Check them out at facebook.com – Carenas Creations, or contact the artist at carenag@cox.net.

CURB APPEALBring a contemporary vibe to your front yard with the Hedge Metal Address Sign from Unique Garden Decor. Made from 100-percent recycled steel, the piece includes a removable planter box, choice of numeral colors and a gabion “hedge” filled with Mexican beach pebbles. The address sign measures 40"H by 22"W by 4"D and can be found at uniqueaddresssigns.com.

COOL TOOLEver tried pruning an overhead branch, only to have to duck to keep it from falling on your head? Fiskars now offers a tool designed to control where branches land, making the chore easier and safer. The Cut-and-Grab Lopper, which features a bypass blade design, grabs cut branches, allowing you to direct their fall. The 30"-long tool also makes it easy to reach into thorny shrubs to remove branches without getting scratched or poked. Find it at fiskars.com.