Handy gardener gifts
Amy Jordan
Thursday, December 14, 2006
While some people are hard to buy gifts for, gardeners are not usually among them.
Here are a few gift ideas for gardening friends, or perhaps it will remind you of something you want to add to your wish list for Santa.
Many gardeners prefer simple gifts, such as a jar of homemade jelly, a dried flower arrangement, or a collection of your favorite vegetable recipes. Add a pair of gardening gloves or the promise of a division off their favorite plant in the spring and you have the perfect gift.
Gardening reference books and magazine subscriptions offer new ideas and useful information. If the infinite choices seem overwhelming, choose a gardening encyclopedia or a book specific to their particular area of interest, such as vegetables, woody ornamentals, Bonsai or a specialty plant (daylilies, clematis, hosta, etc.).
A higher priced gift idea might be a new camera for photographing their garden or to take pictures at other gardens for new landscaping or plant selection ideas. If they already have a good camera, consider a more sophisticated lens such as the “macro” type that can be used for close-ups of insects or flowers as well as general purpose photography.
Pruning equipment is always useful for gardeners. There are many options in this category from clippers to chain saws. Pruning saws are useful, as are loppers and good quality hand pruners. Pole pruners are useful for light pruning after young trees get too tall to reach with loppers or hand saws. They are also handy for heading back branches on larger trees that rub on the roof or hang over the basketball court.
Stocking stuffers could include measuring spoons (there should be a set for each type of pesticide to avoid residue problems), safety goggles, knee pads, a rain gauge, chemical resistant gloves, a pocket knife, tape measure, or plant markers.
Other items you might consider are — small scales for weighing fertilizer or pesticides, soaker hoses, gardening “clogs” (washable footwear), tasteful statuary/yard art, bird feeder, bird bath heater, bird seed, wind chimes, fountain/water feature, patio furniture, wheelbarrow/garden cart, arbor/trellis... the list could go on and on. If you just can’t decide on a gift, consider a gift certificate to their favorite garden center.