An enormous bird feeder in the shape of a diamond ring. Silver gardening gloves. Gold hand shovels. What kind of enchanted garden is this?
Today, a Swedish startup called Garden Glory brings a collection of luxurious, whimsical garden tools to the United States. Founder Linda Brattlöf came up with the idea after moving from an apartment to her first house. She and her husband bought a property with a gorgeous patio and garden. It was perfect, except for the ugly green garden hose in the corner held up by a rusty wall bracket. “It just ruined the whole effect for me,”Brattlöf says. “What is the point of spending so much time nurturing a beautiful garden, then ruining it with ugly tools?” She went to her local hardware store and searched online to see if she could find nicer-looking garden products, but they were all the same. So she decided to launch a company and make them herself.
The result is fascinating, bizarre, and magical. Many of the pieces in the debut collection are not outlandishly priced, although they are more expensive than your run-of-the-mill garden tools. Watering cans cost between $49 and $59, depending on the size, and you can pick one in your favorite color, whether that’s jade green or a rose pink. You’ll most likely want to coordinate your can with your spade: The handles come in the same color scheme and the scoops are gold-colored. The most popular items so far are the $99 hoses, which come in the same array of colors, as well as gold, black, and white.
It appears Brattlöf wasn’t alone in her sentiments about the ugly green hoses.
I spent an afternoon in my own garden with some of these tools. They were sturdy, even though they looked dainty. My favorite piece was the hand shovel, which had a solid heft. It made potting my new basil plants simple. The watering can also felt substantial and ergonomic, so it was easy to pour even though it was full. And after my little gardening session, I didn’t feel like I needed to hide all of these items in the basement or shed.
All of these items are playful, tinkering with the idea of placing beautiful things in places we don’t expect to find them. Many items–including the hose nozzles–come packaged in a white gift box complete with black ribbon. Brattlöf says that people buy them as housewarming or wedding gifts. Other avid gardeners love the idea of purchasing a slightly indulgent gift for themselves that will give them joy during the many hours they spend in their gardens. “We prioritize design in so many aspects of our lives, from our interiors,” Brattlöf says. “Why wouldn’t we do the same with our gardens?”
Garden Glory’s products are available online as well as at premium, design-focused retailers like Le Bon Marche in Paris and Selfridges in London. Starting today, they will debut in the United States at the pop-up space STORY at Macy’s in New York. Prices range from $19 to $399.
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