I had no idea

What this thing was when I bought it on the clearance table at the end of last summer. I thought it was very pretty and surely I could figure out a use for it. Anyway, there it was. I had no idea what it was but I had to have it. I was certain it must have been missing some important part but I didn't know what.
I saw it laying over on the table in the shop so picked it up this afternoon to examine it one more time and contemplate again what in the world it might be. I decided to fill it with water. It all ran out the bottom thru the tiny holes like a shower. hmmmmmmm...hummingbird feeder? naaaa....I filled it again this time for some strange reason I held my thumb over the hole on top...no water ran out. Take my thumb off the hole...water shower. hmmm...I just googled terra cotta watering and it came up with a picture looking real close to mine so I clicked on that and it was a "thumb waterer" or "thumb pot" !

http://www.backyardgardener.com/gp/Gardening_Products/Vegetable_Gardening/Thumb_Waterer.html
How cool!
Anybody else have one of these?

The under side

Yes! We have one of those, but no where near as pretty. Our is the basic terra cota one similar to the photo you posted. We use it to gently water transplants or small garden areas.

Beautiful! It's definitely a treasure.

Thanks ! I think it is too daltri.
I can see how this really would work garden_mermaid, because even tho my hose sprayer has a shower click on it I still need to barely squeeze the trigger when I'm watering so I don't knock over my seedings.

When I first got it I tried to investigate and googled "terra cotta rose" images but no hits looking anything like it so I'm so happy to finally know what it is.

According to HGTV, the thumb pot waterer dates back to 450 BC!

Wow...waaaay before running water, spigots and the water hose was invented. Pretty smart.

How cool! And so pretty. It's remarkable the gardening places don't sell these.

Edited to say and then I googled it and there they are...

This message was edited Apr 20, 2007 11:18 AM

That is so neat maidentheshade
Thanks for sharing . Kell

I just love yours!
Where did you get it last summer?
It is by far the prettiest one I have ever seen......I keep looking for one as nice as this...... no luck.
If you ever get tired of it let me know...lol!

LOL I doubt I'll tire of it, shellabella. We have a little Hardware store that has everything you could possibly need for any kind of repair and the little older men retired from their profession working in their respective departments. Their knowledge and getting to pick brains makes it worth the extra it costs to shop there. They also have a garden section. Extremely proud of their plants and garden accessories too tho...but it's fun to look. It was on the clearance table at the end of the season. No tag, no UPC label. I looked for the little older lady who usually works that department but couldn't find her. I finally found someone to ask how much and what is it but the high school kid working that section didn't know. Somebody in authority finally said five bucks so I jumped on it because I wanted it...whatever it was. :) I thought it might be part of a fancy fountain head as they do have many cool fountains even the bronze very expensive (thousands of dollars) fountains and all kinds of unusual things for the garden.

I haven't been in there this season, but I will. If they have them again I'll see how much and let you know. They might have all kinds to choose from.

Connie

Thanx Connie!
I would be so grateful if they do have them and you would let me know.
I miss places like that hardware store....we had one in the town in TX that I grew up in, I think it's still there.
Nothing like that over here , last one in town closed a few years ago. Only the big hardware chains remain.
Again ...congrats on having a good eye and getting such a deal.

Michelle:)

Hey, maid -- what hardware store is it? I work in Beaumont and we can take turns keeping an eye out. The only ones I have found so far are very plain. It's not M&D on College, is it?

Hi Brigidlily!

I was with Connie the day she found it. It was M & D on College. Not too long ago, I saw that there is an M & D in Lumberton also, right next to the new Goodwill. We haven't been in the Lumberton M & D. They may have them there.

Both of us really like the folks at M & D and are willing to pay for their help. You can rarely get a decent answer from the kids at Sutherlands.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
Janet

Hi, Janet. The M&D in Lumberton is nothing like the one in Bmt. I was trying to fix some plumbing at a house built in 1926 (the house I grew up in) and this old brass piece had just worn out. Completely obsolete, of course! But the guy at M&D there just up and fixed it. Didn't charge me a thing. I love that place!

Sutherlands. Alas. It's going the way of the bix box stores. The customer service there used to be dandy -- now, you may as well be at HD (where I've vowed never to go again). IF you can find someone, chances are s/he may as well be selling boxes of cereal. No knowledge, no interpersonal skills whatsoever.

Gee whiz, I'm showing my age, aren't I? I'M TOO YOUNG TO BE A CODGER!!!

But I'll check it out this afternoon anyway -- I have to get a new peephole since I very cleverly destroyed my old one. If they have anything like it I'll buy them up and let people know.

Ann

No thumb pots :(.At least not the other day while I was fooling around in M & D. Altho they have expanded the gardening section tremendously, I didn't see nearly as many cool, unusual garden artsy things as I have there in previous years. But they may still get them. Not many wind chimes either this year. Maybe they are concentrating more on the plants. They're still real proud of um. I'll keep checking.
The only really neat one I found on the internet was a hedgehog. He was cute.

https://www2.securesiteserver.co.uk/wmpot/store/catalog/3227.jpg

I went to the Lumberton M&D yesterday and no such things as thumb waterers in any way, shape, or form. I didn't actually ask -- I just kept picturing those kids asking "why would she want to water her thumb" and couldn't bring myself to do it!

I think they're having to compete with HD and the like, and it's a shame. They're not as "character" good as they used to be. I'm going to Sutherland's this afternoon, and may drop by M&D first. They can have some great plants, but as you say, they're proud of them. But it's still fun to look around, see what you can see. I got a $1 screwdriver set there years and years ago and it's still the one I use the most.

haha ! When I was in there the other day I couldn't bring myself to ask either!
Ellis' on Phelan/Calder gets some exotics every so often. Janet and I love to go in there. They're reasonable.
OH! I noticed a new nursery on Major yesterday. It's between Delaware and Gladys. I forgot to tell you Janet. I spotted it yesterday on the way to that commercial job on the corner of Gladys and Major. They added two more doors so today so I need to go back to do those. I may sneak in there when I get finished.

I like the outside part of Ellis but going in -- OH does the smell ever make my head hurt!!! I suspect it's the candles. Don't like strong artificial scents. I wish they had a cashier outside!

Major is my old 'hood -- I lived in a townhouse a block away from West Brook. Maybe I'll drop by the new nursery -- it's good to know it's there.

I'm trying to "see" it in my mind. Is it where BRB (Carl and Rainbow) used to be? I saw a bunch of tropical plants in front of that area the last time I went to Jennifer's as I drove down Major Drive. Wasn't sure if it was a business or just someone passionate about their tropicals.

Connie, we haven't been there, but there is also a nursery on Delaware (between Lucas and the Freeway) that I went and bought potting soil many years ago. I forgot all about that place until this very moment when I was imagining it to be the pace you were referring to. I can't remember the name of it at the moment.

Ann, I know what you mean about the overpowering scent in Ellis's. I just can't resist all the cool stuff that I **might** need that might possibly be on clearance. Connie and I enjoy visiting with the little gal who works in the plants. The "insiders" leave a bit to be desired, as far as personality, but the little gal makes up for it. There is a new older fella there also now that is just a sweetheart.

What we really need is a good place to buy pottery planters (with holes) that don't cost an arm and a leg. Our little man out in Port Neches is no longer in business. He didn't have a great selection, but his prices couldn't be beat. We may need to make a trip to Mexico for pots.

Well the UPS man was late delivering today so I didn't get back to the job until 4:15. I finished about 6 so I didn't even think about heading in that direction and stopping by that nursery this evening. I can't remember where the Rainbow place was Janet. This is on the....... North...... side of Major. LOL I had to think about that ...kinda like doing math. The side NOT where Jennifers street turns off. I only had a glance because I was looking for the job location at the time but it looked like quite a bit of stuff.

I know the place on Lucas, Janet. I just never think about it. We should do them too.


You know, Hancock fabrics used to make my eyes burn every time I went in there.

The Rainbow place was just past Gladys. It looked like apartments (upstairs and downstairs) but was more office suites. That was many moons ago though.

Jolie will be with Karen tomorrow and Friday so I'd be available to go check it out with ya.

I know the place on Lucas, Janet. I just never think about it. We should do them too.
We could "do" the one on Delaware (not Lucas) also. (wriggling eyebrows)

I don't remember having a problem with my eyes or sinuses in Hancock. They had some candles there, but not nearly the quantity and selection that Ellis has.

Hey, we need to go check out that Westbury Nursery also. They had quite a nice selection of plants. Hopefully all the snakes are out of the hanging baskets by now. HAHAHAHA I will never forget that outing as long as I live! (shuddering as I remember running for my life!)

I don't think it was the candles. I always thought it was either the lights or something in the fabric. Fire retardant maybe.

I will have to see how the days go with appointments. I might have nothing first thing but the two I have later...one at 11, back glass only... and then a Yukon after lunch...I'm almost certain both will be here.

Well, let me tell you. I got a $5 coupon for Sutherlands in the mail, so I thought I'd just go there and get the half dozen things I needed. After and hour of searching and asking for help and not getting it, I tore the coupon up and handed it to the cashier on my way out. Went across the street to the really good M&D, was done and happy in about 20 minutes. People who were busy with paperwork looked up and asked if they could help me. I needed a couple of things sawed in half and since I was spending about $50 they didn't even charge me for it!

Sutherlands, Lowe's, and HD don't even exist anymore as far as I'm concerned. Lowe's is just the parking lot I go through to get from Hobby Lobby to Michaels. They're HORRIBLE. Yes, the prices are lower, but at what cost?

Okay, that's out of my system. Sorry. And no thumb waterers, by the way!

Well, Connie and I just returned from Garden Delight. That's the place at 1690 Major Drive, just around the corner from Gladys, heading towards 105. I'm not even going to guess if it's north or south or east or west. There is a delightful Asian lady named Alice that runs the place. Connie and I had met her at Diane's Gifts on Calder back in the Fall.

She had wonderful pergola type arbors with plants everywhere. Very tasteful and shady to shop in. At first glance, she doesn't have a lot of plants. We spent about 30 minutes looking around and realized that she doesn't have an abundant quantity of any one plant, but has quite an assortment of exotic plants. They are all beautiful healthy plants and her prices are very reasonable. About like Ellis. She has some really unique planters and other garden accessories. Definitely would be worth the drive to check out for you Ann. I didn't see much in the way of herbs, but I came away with a nice size beautiful Japanese Maple and a stained glass/copper angel windchime. With tax it was 42.00 for both.

We also went by Beaumont Greenery on Delaware, between Lucas and the Eastex Freeway. They had a great selection of plants and the prices were reasonable. There was an adorable cement birdbath with a monkey wrapped around it. For $75, I told her I'd be happy to just come by and look at hers now and then. After spending the money on the maple I just couldn't justify buying a birdbath I didn't need, no matter how much I wanted it. sigh They had a lot of herbs that I haven't seen in other places. Very friendly lady working there but I didn't catch her name.

Janet

I know the place you're talking about now -- I've driven by there I don't know how many times. I'll stop and check it out before too long. I drove down Major yesterday and didn't see the one there, but to tell the truth I didn't think about it until I saw the Delaware sign, so that's my fault. But it would be nice to find some rue -- it's one of the few I want and don't have. Tricky to work with as I tend to be photosensitive anyway, but it's so pretty. Maybe they have it at Greenery. Thanks!

Y'all don't forget to look for thumb waterers!

I bought rue earlier this year hoping to attract butterflies. I think it was Ellis that I bought it from. I didn't see any rue at the Beaumont Greenery. If Ellis is out, Shell might have it.

What is rue good for, other than attracting butterflies? Can you cook with it?

No, as far as I know it's purely medicinal but not one that I'd ever use medicinally -- it's just pretty, and I'd do a lot for the butterflies anyway. And kind of cool to say you have rue, you know? My XH was just astounded I had hyssop! Same kind of thing.

I found Yarrow (Paprika) at a nursery over on Concord the other day. Had to add that to my collection of herbs. It has really pretty petite flowers on it.

I saw hyssop recently. Can't remember what it looked like though.

Today we saw Vick's at the Beaumont Greenery place. I rubbed the leaves and sure enough, smelled just like vick's vapor rub. I didn't get it, though I may go back and get it. They also had borage which the lady there said could be used in salads like arugula. I've never tried arugula although I've seen all of the food network chefs use it.