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Carol J. Michel

Award winner author of gardening humor books

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May Dreams Gardens

Vintage gardening tools

November 9, 2011 By Carol Michel 11 Comments

Give me those old time gardening tools.

Give me simplicity of design.

Give me quality that lasts for decades.

Give me the patina of age, of tools well used by past gardeners.

My sister-in-law found these two old garden claws at an antique store and wonder of wonders, she thought of me when she saw them and thought I might like them. She’s very smart that way.

I do like them. I like to think of the digging they did, of the seed beds they prepared.

I like to think about what kinds of gardeners used them. No doubt, they were used by wise, old gardening men and women, who tended their gardens with care and consideration for their entire lives.

I like to think they used these tools for decades, during a time when a few simple, well-made tools, were all a gardener needed to create a beautiful flower bed, a bountiful vegetable garden.

The tool on the right appears to be made of cast aluminum. I like it, but I love the tool on the left, which, though not as well made, has a bit more character.

It looks like a raccoon’s hand and has a hollow handle.

A hollow handle. If I look down that hollow handle at just the right angle, I think I can see a piece of old paper stuck down in there.

Does it have something written on it? Does it contain a secret message, perhaps more gardening secrets?

Could it be? Could it be that this gardening claw contains the thirteenth secret to achieving happiness in your garden?

Or some other message for gardeners?

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: humor, tools

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mr. McGregor's Daughter says

    November 9, 2011 at 2:37 am

    Those are beautiful. I assume they are for display purposes only. And how fortunate that one came with a note inside.

    Reply
  2. growingagardenindavis says

    November 9, 2011 at 3:21 am

    Carol is so lucky like that. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Helen says

    November 9, 2011 at 3:39 am

    A special kind of garden art.

    Reply
  4. africanaussie says

    November 9, 2011 at 5:15 am

    Oh I wonder what that note says?

    Reply
  5. Fairegarden says

    November 9, 2011 at 10:10 am

    What a thoughtful gift! Those are full of stories, I bet, those old tools.

    Frances

    Reply
  6. Gail says

    November 9, 2011 at 12:08 pm

    Those are very nice….anda new gardening secret will be, too. gail

    Reply
  7. Rock rose says

    November 9, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    You have given me a great idea for the old garden fork without a handle. It just sits in the ground doing nothing but it had a nice place to hide a note.

    Reply
  8. Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp says

    November 9, 2011 at 4:11 pm

    Yeah, the tools are cool, but quit teasing us.

    Reply
  9. trump says

    November 9, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    I thought id stop by and post a comment since im checking out some new blogs. So greetings from the Amish settlement of Lebanon ,Pa. Richard from Amish Stories.

    Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    November 10, 2011 at 12:41 am

    Those look great. Old tools are marvelous and luckily I have found some at car boot sales, auctions etc for next to nothing. One of the best I found, was a pair of edging shears which has a lovely wheel on it so you are always at the right height and no strain at all to use. Very clever…!

    Reply
  11. mariernrocks says

    November 10, 2011 at 9:47 am

    Mystery behind every old, vintage tools is what makes them valuable. The older, the better. Lucky you… 🙂

    Reply

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