The garden mail cometh: Practical purchases

Along with my Peony parasol from Cricket Hill Garden, I ordered a package of 25 aluminum plant tags for $9.50. I have a couple of these tags on trees in my garden. The tags were on the trees when they were purchased and have remained legible for years. But this is the first time I've seen these tags for sale. They are 1" x 3-3/8"  long which is enough space to write what's needed. You just press down with a pen or pencil. The finish does not oxidize, according to the Cricket Hill website. These came wrapped in the same packaging as my parasol. There was no shipping charge for either item.

Cricket Hill is selling these tags to use for peony identification and suggests tying them to a bamboo stake in the ground rather than tying the wire around a plant stem. I am going to use mine for trees and shrubs and do plan to tie them around branches. But I will use small branches that will take a long time to be big enough for the wire to cause damage. Or at least that's my plan. Garden visitors always want to know the age and variety of trees and now I won't have to count on my memory to answer their questions.

. . .

I also replaced my AnyWear unisex garden clogs which are getting worn out after almost sixteen years of use. If I remember correctly I bought these ruby slippers in Seattle in 2000 when I was out there for a newspaper convention. I wear them indoors and for a walk around the garden but not for garden work. When I am in the garden for the day, I wear sturdy work boots. I have positional vertigo so I get dizzy easily and need to be well grounded when I am working in the garden. Otherwise I will end up on the ground.

Despite the way it looks in the photo below, the new ones fit nicely and are very comfortable. I have narrow feet and it is not easy to find this kind of a mass produced product that works for me. I think the price was reasonably similar to what I paid back then. At least I did not think it was outrageous at $38.25 and free shipping. I don't really feel too bad about buying these online since my other three types of garden footwear were all purchased locally at shoe stores. The only thing I feel bad about is that I could not find exactly what I wanted in red! The bright color means I can take them off anywhere and quickly find them. That will not be the case with these black ones. 

Comments

[Peter/Outlaw]

It's always fun to get packages in the mail even if they're practical and you know what's inside. Thanks for the tip about the aluminum labels and especially the AnyWear clogs. All of my local sources for AnyWears stopped selling them years ago and my last pair just got tossed into the garbage. I'd not thought of looking online, thinking that the company must not be making them anymore.

[Linda from Each Little World]

Peter — ​When I ordered the clogs on Amazon they came from a medical clothing company. Amazon seemed the easiest way to get them. ​

[Lisa at Greenbow]

Tags and clogs a good thing. I thought of you when I looked at the new edition of B&H's Country Gardens magazine. They have a nice article about peonies. Seems there is a big peony garden, Ellwanger Garden in Rochester, NY. You might know of it since you are from up that way. I thought the article might interest you.

[Linda from Each Little World]

Lisa — ​I have heard of that garden but not until I moved away. Have never seen it myself but I will look for the article. I lived in Rochester for three years. It's called the Flower City and has a park filled with lilac trees that I did go to a number of times.

[Beth @ PlantPostings]

Oh fun! It's always exciting to get new stuff in the mail--especially garden stuff! I've meant for years to add markers like that, but haven't gotten around to it. Now that we'll probably be moving in a couple of years, it doesn't make much sense. Maybe my next garden will be perfectly marked. ;-)

[D]

You are getting a lot of fun stuff, I love the labels!
Hope things have warmed up once again and the ice is gone...