Garden Chores

I've spent the last few days enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.
81 degrees on the outside thermometer, perfect for finishing those late Autumn garden chores.
Flower pots and gardening tools have been stacked away in the potting shed, seeds have been gathered from the fading blooms, and perennials mulched to protect against the winter freezes.

"Spring flowers are long since gone.
Summer's bloom hangs limp on every terrace.
The gardener's feet drag a bit on the dusty path and the hinge in his back is full of creaks."-

~Louise Seymour Jones

The Legacy Continues

When one of my most favorite garden supply stores decided to close it's doors after almost thirty years of doing business, I was disappointed to say the least.

A weak economy was to blame.

Many of you may be familiar with Smith and Hawken, founded by Dave Smith and Paul Hawken in 1979 to provide gardeners with handcrafted tools from England.
Over the years, it became known as the gold standard in the industry.

While the original Smith & Hawken focused on high-end English gardening tools with a lifetime guarantee, later iterations of the company branched into outdoor living products such as furniture, fire pits, lighting, bird baths and garden decor.

Today, I welcomed an e-mail announcing that Target Stores have partnered with the Smith and Hawken brand, and will once again be carrying their line of products.

Quality crafted and timelessly designed garden supplies, they truly are essentials to any garden.

Now where did I put those Christmas gift cards ?