What to Wear
As I was getting ready to spend all day (a gorgeous summer day expected to be about eighty degrees) outside fixing the esplanade that was partially removed and hastily repaired by road crews that have been working in our neighborhood over the last ten weeks (I originally mentioned my concerns over this work in my April 16th post) I put on my normal gardening outfit; old shirt, weathered jeans, and lawn-mowing sneakers.  It then occurred to me that I should perhaps cover "what to wear" when spending time getting "dirty".

Not much for straw hats, gloves, and knee pads, I usually dress for comfort and discretion when working outside (conscientious of the fact that I will normally end up in several different, unflattering positions).  It may seem too hot in summer to wear jeans, but I find they are good protectors from scratches, bug bites, and any rash-causing plants that I might unwittingly brush up against.  I had the experience in my first garden of spending a Sunday outside trimming and weeding, then realizing at work the next day I had a fiery, itchy rash over the backs of both my legs.  I had an urban yard with no known poison ivy or oak, so I am unsure what may have caused it (my sister did tell me once that interaction with even ordinarily harmless plants can cause a rash as plants, like animals, have defense mechanisms), I only know that it was vastly uncomfortable wearing nylons and skirt at work that week while my rash healed.  Since then, I have made it a rule to wear long pants, despite any heat, while gardening.

Perhaps more important than clothing, is sunscreen.  Sunscreen not only prevents skin cancer and premature aging, but also that not-so-sexy farmer's tan.  I never realize when I'm outside how much sun I truly get until I slip on that swimsuit and view myself (with horror) in the mirror at the tan that ends with my t-shirt sleeves and begins again from the base of my neck up.  Do yourself, and those at the beach who surround you, a favor, use a really good sunscreen when working outside.

Those who are dedicated to working outside even in inclement weather may even want a good pair of rain boots (or "wellies").  I begged for a pair for Christmas a couple of years back, and the better half purchased a traditional green pair from L.L. Bean, which I love because I am a bit of an anglophile.  On rainy days, I even wear them to work to save my good shoes.  And though I usually don't wear gardening gloves (I like the feel of the soil in my hands) I will wear them also in rainy, cold weather to keep my hands warmer or when pruning a thorny shrub.