Thanks for the link Sherry. My pruners are a pair of Coronas. What does ARS stand for?

Well, it probably means something, but I have no idea. If you Google ARS, you will get their products. I became familiar with them 25 years ago when I worked for Smith and Hawken. We only carried their long reach pruners.

I've got the heavy duty smaller size. One thing I prefer over the Felcos is that you only need to squeeze the handles to open them, and the locking latch is easier to use than the Felcos.

Great, I'll look them up!

Yikes Barbara!!!

Yes, my trowels only have short handles. Can't beat the 99 cent price, though.

For sure!!

At that price Polly you can get several for every corner of the yard!

Arlyn - those springs are too heavy duty/large for my clippers. Thanks so much for going to the effort to find them though!

I do have one in each bed, and like I said they never break as they are one piece.

Something I've been considering is putting up some mail boxes in various spots, painted in whimsical colors, where I'll keep various tools. They can also serve as places to trellis Clematis. And isn't the base of a mailbox the classic place to grow Irises? LOL

Good idea, Neal.

I just got a mailbox for my cottage last winter and was shocked at how much they cost now. I wanted a good old-fashioned, made in America, Folsom mailbox with a metal flag. All the big box stores carry the made in China crap.. I finally found one, but it was around $70.. I had the same idea to put mailboxes around the garden, but used ones around here don't seem to make it on Craigslist... I think people just toss them when they get a new one.

I get the old mailboxes at a scrap metal business. Neal just make sure you do not leave them unchecked for over a week or you will have wasps to deal with. They love my mailboxes.

Nice idea, and some fun garden art to boot!

Great Idea Neal! ...and Bonnie I think the scrap metal business is an excellent idea for finding the old mailboxes!

Good idea Bonnie! And you're so right about the wasps- I've learned to watch closely for them. Especially after the day I sat on the garden seat, unaware of the wasp nest inside!

Owie!

Wasp love my yard art so I have to keep a watch on the backs of benches, unused flower pots, mailbox tool holders, etc., not to mention under eaves and around the garden shed. I have even found ants at the base of the mailbox with them clustered inside the box itself. I like hammock chairs. I can see through them so no spiders or wasps plus they get a good washing every rain so no hidden pollen. I think benches of every kind, tucked in along paths, fences and against trees, make a garden look so inviting. When benches that are made of wood finally get a bit too treacherous for sitting I put a big pot of plants on one end and a garden critter or basket full of seasonal plants on the other and they still look friendly.

Sounds lovely Bonnie. Garden benches and seating places make a garden inviting, and garden art gives an excuse to linger a moment longer to admire it.

Well, they haven't built on my garden scoot yet, Neal. Yet anyway. They do get in my vintage watering can collection. They mostly are for display, but I use them sometimes. I am allergic to their stings, so I have to really be careful