An essential utensil for the serious gardener: iron scissors from Japan, as beautiful as they are useful.

Above (L to R): Japanese Short Scissors for cutting thick branches, $100; All-Purpose Scissors, $160; and Tall Thin Scissors for pruning delicate branches, $100; all from Tortoise in LA.

Above: Ikebana Scissors; $29.95 from Amazon.

Above: Everyday Scissors from Mjolk in Toronto, made from hand-forged iron in Japan. Priced (from L to R) as follows: CA$85 for the Household Scissors, CA$68 for the Flower Cutting Scissors; and CA$45 for the Herb Cutting Scissors.

Above: Japanese Pruning Shears; $42.20 from Shinto-Religion.