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antique tools, there is the Museum of Garden History in London. Housed in a former church in Lambeth, on the south side of the Thames, the museum also possesses a garden planted with specimens connected to the Tradescants, early English botanists who traveled to Virginia, among other places.
Homemade tools are uncommon now, though I do have a few: a compost sieve, furrow maker, soil tamper and wooden flats. Luckily, unlike the Middle ages, we can buy tools, though it is unfortunate that the best ones are most available through catalogs. Look in Johnny's (207-437-4301) catalog for Clarington Forge tools, Union trowels, a good dibber and an uncommon tool, the broadfork. Stillbrook Horticultural Supplies (800-414-4468) carries Samuel Parks tools, gloves, Felco pruners and loppers and great hand tools.
Although Smith and Hawken’s catalogs are geared more towards those who sit in teak chairs and order garden labourers about, their web site (smithandhawken.com) offers some very fine tools, including the one and two gallon Haws watering cans.
Don't forget the gardener's greatest tool — your body! If you garden a lot, it is good practice to get regular bodywork: Feldenkrais, massage, Cranial-Sacral therapy or Yoga to keep those bones and muscles limber. Happy gardening!
Donna LaPre welcomes questions and comments and may be reached at dopray@ earthlink.net or in care of the Rappahannock News, P.O. Box 59, Washington, Va. 22747.
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