Our trusty tools

We always believed gardeners are creative folks; our recent request for stories about your favorite gardening tools confirmed it. Sure, you like your trowels and trugs. But you also like barbecue forks, screwdrivers and blenders. If you cannot find the precise tool for a garden task, you invent one. One reader, Maggie Meyer, even nominated her dog because "he's the only family member consistently willing to participate who doesn't drink from my glass, never leaves tools rusting in the dirt, doesn't get dirt on the inside of my favorite gloves, never moans that he's hot, and his friends don't drop by to distract him. His most vital role is to chase away every bunny, squirrel, raccoon, possum, armadillo, roach and most especially some long shiny snake." Thanks to all who responded. We'd like you to meet a few of these resourceful local gardeners.

-- LENNIE BENNETT, Times staff writer

[Times photos: Chris Zuppa]

MY SNOW SHOVEL,
by Nancy M. Eggert, Dunedin

MY WHEELBARROW,
by Sue Kirchner, Tampa

"I went from gardening in my lovely, small, Zone 5 garden plot at my Michigan condominium to the overgrown lot surrounding our older home in Tampa. The wheel barrow is my work station, tool belt and so much more."

MY BLENDER,
by Mary Hayes, Clearwater

"A tool I would miss terribly is my kitchen blender. All vegetable and fruit scraps and egg shells are chopped up. Many days this occurs three or four times. They produce no odor and they are well on their way to breaking down in the soil or compost pile."

MY HATCHET,
by Shirley Thompson, St. Petersburg

"I could not survive without my hatchet. It is wonderful for getting out weeds and roots, but my favorite use is for stress removal. Several years ago I had an asphalt driveway, which I hated but could not afford to have removed. After many hours of stress reduction beating on the asphalt and many trips to the dump, the driveway was gone and in time replaced by a beautiful green yard. As an added plus, it helped get rid of the flabby arms."

MY TRENCH SHOVEL,
by Bob Rinehart, Tampa

"My favorite tool is my 1965 model trench shovel, also called a foxhole shovel, manufactured by the Ames Co., which was issued to me when I was serving in Vietnam. It is excellent for the usual digging but can be reconfigured to used as a hoe or pick. I have used it to cut many roots. Just an outstanding piece of equipment."

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