Dr. A's 2023 Gift Guide
Happy Times: We are so fortunate to be gardeners but, as wonderful as it is, we also realize that there are certain self-evident truths.
1. It is called Working in the Garden for a reason; no-one said that this rose garden or weed garden would be easy.
2. It is truly better to give than to receive, but receiving isn’t half bad either.
So, here are a few Holiday Gift ideas so we can all continue to work (with a smile) in the garden. Enjoy.
Liquid fence
Now, I know it sounds wacky to wrap this up and stick it under the Christmas tree, but let me tell you, any green thumb would be thrilled. This bad boy is a non-toxic spray that works by deterring deer and rabbit by scent, but trust me, it's a miracle worker in the garden. If you've ever strolled through the garden with me, you'll know I always give this spray a standing ovation.
Squirrel Buster Bird Feeder
As a fellow bird admirer, you know the struggle of keeping those pesky squirrels from taking over your bird feeders. But let me tell you, my Squirrel Buster is the true MVP! It's a hoot to watch those bushy-tailed bandits try to outsmart it and fail miserably while my feathered friends enjoy their meals without interruption. It's like a live-action comedy show right in my backyard!
Johnnys Stirrup Hoe
Bendy-backs be gone! Weeding is about to get a whole lot smoother with this nifty tool. The blade glides effortlessly through your garden beds, making it a snap to give those pesky weeds the heave-ho from their root. And, in case you were wondering, the Red Tips Hoe is one of Johnny's hottest sellers.
Joyce Chen Garden Scissors
Searching for a scissors soulmate for your gardening or kitchen adventures? These snips are the answer to your prayers! Lightweight and petite, they are your trusty sidekick to keep in your gardening apron.
Cut flower seeds from Johnny’s
Johnny's has bloomed into an awesome hub for cut flower growers in the US! Looking for the perfect stocking stuffer? A few seed packets from Johnny's will do the trick. And guess what? They've got a whole bouquet of brand new cut flower varieties blossoming in 2024!
Clematis ‘Rooguchi’ from brushwood nursery
From Brushwood: “A hybrid from Kazushige Ozawa of Japan, it has a loose sprawling habit that can either ramble through your garden or be guided and tied to supports. Rooguchi has deep purple, 2.5 inch flowers with an open bell shape and are borne all summer long! I have seen this clematis grow to perfection through the legs of a tall climbing rose: It held dozens of flowers out from the mass to adorn what would have been an otherwise unsightly thorny mess.”
My colleague, Kelly Garcia, owns Terra Flower Farm and has recommended two indispensable items for flower farmers: a Cut Flower design and harvesting tool, and a tool belt. You would never know how much you need this tool belt until you have one, it's an essential item for every flower farmer.
Gardening tool belt from maker Wheeler Monroe
Made in North Carolina, these gardening belts come in multiple styles and options. This tool belt makes carrying everything from your phone to gloves to pruners a simple task. Makes not loosing your favorite pair of snips in the garden a much simpler task.
Felco Picking and Trimming Snip
We couldn’t have said it better than Felco.
“Redefining your idea of what is a hard-to-reach area, these snips can cut small branches and are perfect in minimising wastage when picking flowers and fruit. The ergonomic handle design means both small and large hands will be able to bring unstoppable manoeuvrability to every cutting job.”
New for spring, 2024 This guide serves as a fundamental introduction to the commercial production of cut flowers. It is designed as a field guide, and written primarily with new, small scale cut flower farmers in mind. However, it will also serve as a valuable resource for home gardeners and experienced growers alike.
The guide includes quick reference tables and easy-to-access information. It will be viewed similar in style to an Audubon Guide, providing a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the subject matter, including cultivars, stage of bloom, propagation techniques, planting tomes, spacing and the all-important post-harvest procedures.
The book will be physically robust, and we hope it will be tossed in the back of the wheelbarrow, tractor or pickup and referred to in the field.
If you have a copy of Armitage & Laushman’sSpecialty Cut Flowers, then imagine that as the text for Cut Flowers 401. This is the text for Cut Flowers 101, and they complement each other.
Whether you're starting a small cut flower farm or just looking to expand your gardening knowledge, this manual will provide a solid foundation for success.
