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Get your groove on gardening
By Meg | April 15, 2008
Spring is here and it’s time to get out and get planting. Even I have been bit by the gardening bug. Truth be told, though, I’ve come to realize that my traditional gardening outfit of gym clothes and flip flops just isn’t that practical. So, if you’re like me and are in need of a garden garb makeover, this post is for you.
First off, gardening clothes should:
- allow plenty of movement
- be climate appropriate
- protect you from bugs, thorns, and the elements
- hold up to abuse
- be easily cleaned or not show stains or just be alright to get yucky looking
- still look mildly respectable if your neighbors might see you
Protect your feet
While easy to clean, flip flops don’t offer much foot protection. Crocs are a little better, but they let dirt in. The best footwear I’ve found is a pair of rain boots
Comfort is key
For serious gardening, it’s hard to beat a well-worn pair of loose jeans for protection and comfort. A pair of capris can also work since the rain boots will protect your ankles. For light gardening, though, you can wear shorts or even a skirt, so long as you’re comfortable and you don’t mind it getting messed up.
Keep clean… -er.
To help keep your clothes cleaner, consider wearing an apron for gardening. Get one with pockets and you won’t have to worry about loosing small tools. This two-pocket gardening apron
Handle with care
One of the best gardening accessories you can get is a good pair of gloves that will keep your hands safe and smooth while you fearlessly tackle even the toughest weeds and yard chores.
Button up
When it comes to tops, consider keeping your old button-up, long-sleeve work blouses. While the Florida heat often drives me to wear tank tops, most of the year I can appreciate a light long-sleeve shirt for the protection in offers from bugs, branches, and the sun. Button-up tops are great since they are easy to get out of at the end of the day when you don’t want to pull a filthy shirt over your head.
Top it off
To top it all off, grab a nice straw hat
Tags: Fashion, Hats, Home & Garden, Pants, Shorts, Style
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April 18th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Ha! I was hoping my hero would get out there and get peas planted while I was gone, but somehow he couldn’t bring himself to garden when the snow was flying. This weekend I’ll probably be out there in my down parka - if we don’t get them in the ground soon, we’ll miss the entire season!
Your post about what to wear gardening reminds me of a friend of mine, with a slightly more romantic personal style idiom than mine, who told me about a dress she saw in the store; she told her husband she could see me wearing it out working in the yard. All I can say is, “in your dreams, sister!”
LOL
April 18th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
We’ve been blessed with pretty great weather here lately, though my husband keeps complaining of the cold nights (anywhere from the 30’s to 50’s). I don’t mind those half as much as the 80-some degree afternoons. That’s Florida weather for you — and why I rarely where sweaters that aren’t easy to take off the moment the sun starts shining.
Hopefully the weather will be great Sunday and my sweetie will get the chicken coop done :D
I’m still wearing a rather romantic style, I guess you could say. O.k., right now I have a black skirt on with velvety, black roses on it and silver butterfly hairclips in my hair. If that isn’t romantic, I don’t know what is.
So yes, you may spot me gardening in a dress ;)
April 20th, 2008 at 5:07 am
[…] Get Your Groove On Gardening […]
May 11th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Meg,
I love your gardening article–the clothing suggestions are superb. I would never be caught in the sun without a straw hat to protect my fair complexion. Also, I do love my crocs–they let in some soil, but they wash off so easily. Happy Birthday Sis!
Love Dawn
May 12th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Thanks, Sis! I hear you about that fair complexion! I can’t stay out there long without something to protect me from the sun. You should see my new straw hat!