Smyth & Hawk'em: Parody, A

The "diggerati", as <I>Time</I> magazine christened the '90s gardeners in a recent feature story, "do not really want to garden; they just want to have a garden, which means they're more willing to spend money than time outdoors." For these diggerati with more greenbacks than green thumbs, the <I>Smith & Hawken Gardening Catalog</I> is the undisputed king of catalogs. Mailed out to more than 18 million customers, its lavish, four-color spreads hawk everything from outlandishly expensive tools and gardening fashions to "river stones." <P> Here to skewer the bible of pretentious gardening are Tom Connor and Jim Downey. Yes, the bad boys of parody are back, and this time they're out to get their hands dirty. Born from a hugely successful two-page spoof they did for <I>Mirabella</I> last summer, this hilarious catalog parody features a whole range of items that are only just slightly more ridiculous than Smith & Hawken. How about a 24-foot-wide rake? With one swipe, the lawn's done. There's a portable divining rod for those hard-to-find water sources in the garden. Then there's "Happy Landings", a narcotic birdseed guaranteed to keep your avian friends grounded. Or how about your very own English Gardening Couple for a mere $98,500?<P> Filled with the cutting wit that made their previous parodies so successful, <I>Smyth & Hawk'em</I> is the perfect gift for today's diggerati and everyone else who loves parodies.