Rain or shine, my special feline wake-up service starts at 6:00 a.m. with a stinky cat paw to the face. In the winter, I try to hide under the comforter. During the gardening season, I drag myself out of bed. Like it or not, 6:00 a.m. is the perfect time to water (not pet naughty cats).

Half asleep, I wander outdoors in rumpled hair and cat-hair covered pajamas like a gardening zombie. Instead of looking for brains, I’m looking for hose attachments (and ultimately a cup of coffee). Bending over the beds, I see a patch of crab grass. Then I have to pull the crab grass… and the suckers off the tomato plants, then the pepper plants. Suddenly, the compost needs to be turned, the pitch folks needs to be washed… And where did I put those new gardening gloves?

Soon it’s 8:30 a.m. and by now, my neighbors have seen much more than the plants in my garden. I’ve been running around the yard with no sunscreen, no bra and no coffee. My pajamas are filthy.

“Mornin’ Jaime!” My neighbor Jeff smiles and waves as he gets into his car. I feel my face turn red as bee balm. This is not the first time he’s caught me in unflattering attire.

On a good day, I go about my garden business in ratty jeans and a tank top. Some days, the BF has to remind me to take off my bike helmet and change out of my bike shorts. Other days, it’s like I’m at a casting call for Grey Gardens, prancing around the yard in a vintage dress, yoga pants, a headscarf and white shoes (Just call me Little Edie).

I can’t be the only absent minded gardener in the metro area. What do you wear to weed and water? Have your neighbors caught you in fashion faux pas? (I guess they should be happy I’m clothed. There’s a dude in England who gardens in a pink silk thong. Ew.)

It seems like I’ve been searching for the perfect tomato cage for years. Those hoops annoy me. I buy them and the trouble begins when I try to put them in my garden. One of those long feet inevitably hits a rock and bends the delicate leg. When I try to straighten it, I break the weld holding the hoop to the leg. The whole thing is an unsightly mangled mess before there’s a single bloom on the ‘maters. And then they try to poke out my eyes when I store them in the garage over the winter.

I’ve considered the spirals and super brawny cages. I inherited some from my father that are made of reinforced wire like they use in concrete. Those work very well until I get a tall-growing tomato.

This year I found “The Ultimate Tomato Cage” from Woodstream Corporation, and thought I’d see how well a product with an ego like that worked. Well, I’m now a believer.

The cage consists of three long stakes and nine 10″ arms that snap to the stakes. The cool part is that you can snap those arms exactly where you need support, add more as the plant grows and when it’s time to store for the winter, everything breaks down and stores easily.

I first saw these babies at Peterson’s in North Branch, but they are also at Home Depot for $5.99 each. That’s about twice the price of those cheap hoops, but they are 10 times as useful, I think.

What’s your fav way to stake or cage your tomatoes? Why do you like it? What methods have you tried and discarded?

Got a thing for pink plastic flamingoes?

Can’t get enough of yard butts?

We want to see how you ornament your lawn and garden. So get out there and start shooting!

You can upload your photos here or send us an e-mail homegarden@startribune.com.

The most outrageous ornament could win you a prize. (And, no, it’s not a free subscription to the Star Tribune.) Entries are due June 22 and will be featured in an online photo gallery.

Happy gardening!

We garden girls love to dish the dirt. We also love the challenge of a stumper question or two. Leave us your garden questions and we’ll try to get you an answer — unless one of our smarty pants garden readers beats us to the punch!

From Christina:

Perfect timing, Christina. Brian just got new guttters and soffets on the house, and we’ve been thinking about a rain barrel, too.

What kind of rain barrel do you use? Do some work better than others? Is it worth the effort to make your own?