Garden Variety

Lisa Casinger -- Casual Living, 1/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Whether a weekend diversion or consuming passion, gardening continues to be one of America's favorite hobbies. Gardeners enjoy their retreats, be they formal, Zen-like, English or wild, through all seasons and employ a variety of products not only to get the job done, but also to adorn their outdoor havens.

Though live deer might play havoc eating bulbs and tromping flowerbeds, the life-size doe and fawn grapevine sculptures add just the right touch as natural adornments. The doe stands 54″ high, the fawns stands 41″ high. • Suggested retail $1,050 and $470, Carleen and Company, 805-688-5520

Handy Hedgehog Pot Brushes from BroCars offer a creative way to clean pots of all sizes. The bristles, made of natural fibers with wooden handles, are available in three sizes. • Suggested retail $23.99, $29.99 and $35.99, BroCars, 800-966-1496

Cement takes on new forms in artist Richard Abbot's plaques. The wall sculptures are available in earth tones like terra cotta, verdigris, sand and ochre. His designs include everything from fruit, veggies and flowers to insects, shells and animals. • Home & Garden Ornament, 207-445-3598

Make a modern statement with your next container garden or flower planting with brass pots. These beaded containers have a rich mahogany finish and are available in three sizes. • Suggested retail $11.99 to $27.99, Global Pottery, 631-694-8100

When you need a little extra workspace, inside or out, the mint green potting bench from Square Nest will come in handy. The bench measures 35.5″× 20.5″× 42″ and features a metal top for easy cleaning. • Suggested retail $150, Square Nest, 513-248-1144

Bring a pond-like feeling to any walkway with iron steppingstones. The 12″×5″ wrought iron stone looks like a lily pad. • Suggested retail $45, Campo De' Fiori, 413-528-9180

When you don't have a lot of room to spare but still want to provide a home for your feathered friends, the half house is a creative alternative. Its design is an adaptation of an English dovecote and it is divided into eight compartments. • Suggested retail $270, Lazy Hill, 800-396-3566

The Garden Angels garden seat/bag is a handy accessory for gardeners. The compact folding garden seat includes a removable bag for tool storage. • Suggested retail $35, 360 Innovations, 01623 726990

The Ivy & Frog Plaque & Planter combines the utility of a planter or birdfeeder with the beauty of a stonecast plaque. It measures 11″×25″. • Suggested retail $75, Encore United Design, 800-727-4883

Retro is back in style. Get your groove on with these 1950s styled pieces from Torrans Manufacturing Co. The seats are made with stamped steel and the legs are formed tubular. They not only come in 10 standard colors, but also custom colors and artwork. • Suggested retail $78.99 to $199.99, Torrans Manufacturing Co., 888-229-2421

The Poetry Pot by artist, author and gardener Robert Dash is crafted from a special, frost resistant terra cotta from Impruneta, Italy. Designed to look ancient, the script is done as imitation of cuneiform or something Greek and the rhymes circle around. • Suggested retail $460, Seibert & Rice, 973-467-8266

Shiny copper mailboxes make it easy to dress up your drive in style. Available in three sizes, they are crafted with brass accents and etched finishes. • Suggested retail $170 to $280, Good Directions, 800-852-3002

Planting bulbs and pulling weeds just got a little easier on the knees with these molded kneeling pads made of lightweight EVA and available in red or green. The molded form helps reduce stress on the gardener's knees and makes a great gift. • Suggested retail $8.99, MidWest Quality Gloves, 800-821-3028

Though we rely on clocks, the sundial still serves as an elegant, historical way of telling time. This wrought iron sundial stands 18.5″ tall with an 11.5″ diameter. • Suggested retail $48, Andrea by Sadek, 212-679-8121

For a more traditional look, consider large, medium and small pewter-colored metal planter boxes. Great for container gardening or topiaries. • Suggested retail $ 29.99 to 39.99, Burton & Burton, 800-241-2094

Cast iron fleur de lis hose guides keep your hoses out of flowerbeds and offer a little decoration. Each guide has an extra long ground spike for added stability and is available in two sizes. • Suggested retail $14.99 to $24.99, Michael Gordon Innovations, 800-928-4886

The WheelEasy LE collapsible yard cart is a must-have for the avid gardener. Drop the handles to the ground to load, then lift the handles to maneuver. It weighs less than 15 pounds and supports loads of up to 150 pounds. • Suggested retail $49.99, Allsop, 866-425-5767