If you are looking for a gift for the gardener in your life, I have a few ideas that will make the garden more productive, the gardener more comfortable, and the house quieter.
Gardeners like to pretend that they will only kneel for a minute or two while pulling out weeds, putting in starts or pulling out weeds. But a morning garden session often ends with the familiar cry of "Honey- it's lunch time". Getting up can be slow and painful- even for young kneed people.
A movable knee pad is one- poor - option, but my time as a construction worker introduced me to high quality strap on knee pads. When you head out for that "few minutes" of garden time, put on the knee pads- especially if you are young, so you'll have good knees in your golden years.
My second garden gift idea is a pair- or two- of inexpensive gloves. I know that some gardeners enjoy the cracked fingers that come with constantly dirty hands, and endless washing. I did for many years. But now I wear thin rubber coated fabric gloves- and I like them better than leather gloves. The rubber gloves fit tightly, and allow you to do fine work- like weeding. The thinner gloves fit in a back pocket easily, so they are there when you need them.
A happy, pain free gardener, is a more productive gardener.
And the knee pads will keep you from developing Rice Crispies syndrome. That annoying snap, crackle , and pop that comes from prematurely worn out joints.
I'm John Fischer with KLCC's good Gardening.
