Wishlist: Pink Roses Watering Can

This week Esther N McCarthy goes digging for some garden paraphenalia to tempt the most fresh-air averse into the great outdoors.

* Good ole William Morris had the right idea — “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Please let him never call to my house. This cheerful Pink Roses Watering Can would pass his test though. It is from the Wild and Wolf collection, a useful accessory for the stylish gardener. It is made of galvanised steel with removable rose. Available from The Pavilion Garden Centre, Ballygarvan, Co. Cork, www.thepavilion.ie, 021-4888134

* We’re pretty sure the name ‘potting shed’ was just a misprint from the beginning — ‘pottering’ is the main activity carried out in most of the sheds I know of. This is a great gift for anyone with a particular talent for pottering. It’s from The Contemporary Home and you’ll have change from €9. www.tch.net

* If you’ve a longing for a canine in your life that doesn’t yowl at the moon or leave inconvenient brown-shaped packages around the garden, this little Yorkshire terrier could be just right for you. Available for €36.50 from Atkins Garden World, Carrigrohane Road, Cork. T: 021 4933433. www.atkins.ie

* Get a country garden buzz going on — even if you have to use it indoors. This cute collection from Marks & Spencer includes dinner plate, side plate, bowl and mug, all €3.50, the cake stand is €17.50 and what collection would be complete without a country garden hi-ball, €2.90.