Charlie Nardozzi of the National Gardening Association discusses some of his favorite gardening gadgets. The Scare-Eye Balloon (figure A) is used to scare birds and other small creatures out of your garden. Wide metallic plastic strips, called space tape, may be hung in tree branches or stretched out over garden rows to scare away hungry birds. When sunlight hits the tape, it shimmers with rainbow colors and reflects onto other surfaces, frightening the birds and protecting your garden. The Soil Scoop (figure B) is an improvement over the trowel. Its toothed edge makes cutting into hard soil a bit easier. A hose wrench (figure C), a rubber sleeve that fits over the tube of the hose, is handy if your hose bib is in a tight spot. When you need to move the hose, just slip the sleeve over the connector, and the wrench gives you a firm grip. Another of Charlie's favorites is the telescoping rake, which has a lever that adjusts the width of the tines so you can rake in and around tight spots. Made of stainless steel, this tool will last for years. The telescoping handle allows you to adjust the tool to your height -- a handy feature for gardeners who are shorter or taller than average.
| 
)
)
)
