Gardening, as relaxing as it may be, can also be frustrating. You find that perfect plant as well as the ideal place to plant it; however, will it thrive there?

If not, you'll be tearing out not only its roots, but also your hair by the roots. Helping to keep all our roots in place is the SunStick, a clever product from Plumstone, LLC.

Each bright green and red plastic flower registers available sunlight — even the least experienced gardener will know where to place plants requiring sun, partial sun, shade or partial shade.

Placed in the ground in the morning, a chemical reaction changes the color of a sticker located in the middle of the flower.

Both Kerry VerMeulen and Cynthia VanRenterghem seemed to have problems with gauging sunlight for finicky flora; therefore, they founded Plumstone, LLC and released SunStick, the company's first released product.

"I wished I could find something that would tell me how much sun it was getting," said VerMeulen, recalling one day when she searched for a sunny spot in her garden.

The suggested retail price for a package of three is $10.

For more information, call 800-605-3769 or visit www.gosunstick.com.

WINE ON THE GO

Not all of us have a wine cellar ... and perhaps our wine doesn't age long enough to justify one. The wine is ready to go out and be appreciated by family and friends.

Fitting the bill is the wine storage system by Storvino Nero, reminiscent of old milk crates, but with more class. Plus, the bottles are stored in the appropriate position on their sides. The crates are made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled materials, which is another advantage.

There is no assembly required, and as your collection develops, the stackable crates can be connected with wine corks. When you are ready to head out to a party or picnic, the side handles make for easy carrying.

Each crate holds six bottles and is available in black, burgundy or white. The suggested retail price is $20.

For more information, visit www.storvino.com.

Maggie Reed may be reach at trocar2000@hotmail.com. To find out more about Maggie Reed and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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