Gardening Equipment

This spade was a gift to me from my wife one year as we attended the Southeastern Flower Show in Atlanta, Georgia. The vendors from Lee Valley had this on special for $28.50 which included shipment. They now cost $35.00. It is a finely balanced tool and a pleasure to work with. Which is an introduction to the following information:

I recently attended a Garden Club Meeting here in Macon, which featured a Guest Speaker who is a Master Gardner.

The following is an outline of his presentation:

Gardening Equipment – Selection and Care

Use Chemicals for Caution – Always comply with the directions.

Keep tools in the same place – You will know where they are.

Wear a brimmed hat – Skin Cancer is not fun.

Wear Gloves – Protect your hands.

Use the correct pruner for the task. Bypass for green material. Anvil for dead or dry material

Clean tools after each use – Then they are always ready.

Keep cutting tools sharp

Have emery paper handy – Then you can keep the surfaces of knives clean.

Use WD-40 – Or any other water displacement liquid to prevent rust.

Obtain the best gardening trowel you can afford. Stainless steel is the best.

For gas powered equipment always use STA-BIL when you place equipment in storage for the next season of use. STA-BIL is a fuel stabilizer that prevents fuel from deteriorating so engines start quickly and easily after storage.

Select a shovel with a well balanced and long enough handle and keep it sharp and clean.

If you garden in a tree filled property the use of an AXE is a fact of life. Obtain the best you can afford. Keep the Axe sharp and clean and you will never have to obtain another one.

Obtain a Mattock/Pick Ax or

A Prong Hoe

Confederate Roses

The Confederate Rose, while not a "Rose" is certainly a unique "Pass Along" plant. The three plants that flourish in our East Garden were passed to us by my Bride's Aunt who lives in the Country.
The beautiful feature of this plant is that various colors can appear on one bush. The pinks, white and even a fairly dark red. Unfortunately we had no red blooms when we conducted this photo shoot.
The originator of this Blog is shown here to give you an idea of the size of the Confederate Rose Plant. This shows a six foot tall person and the plant towers above.
This picture gives you an idea of the size of the plant and how the blooms are spread out. The Confederate Rose is easily grown. I cut them to the ground after the first frost here in Middle Georgia and mulch with a generous pile of tree leaves until Spring when I uncover them after all danger of frost is past. A very rewarding plant to grow because of the bountiful blooms every Fall.

Angel Trumpet Flowers

Gardening Tidbits

I have been fastinated with the Angel Trumpet Flowers for several years. I first saw them while on a road trip to Athens, Georgia to observe the 1996 Olympic Games Soccer Matches.
These pictures are from my Gardens here in Macon, Georgia.

I have had as many as twelve blooms on one plant. A future Blog entry will focus on taking cuttings and sharing this fun plant