Do you have a gardener on your gift list? Forget about a pair of gloves (yawn) or an amaryllis (rather vulgar, don't you think?) or a lawn mower (want to stay married?). There are far more exciting gifts from which to choose.
After thorough research, I offer the following list.
Practical. Felco Pruners. If the gardener on your list doesn't already own a pair, then your present is a no-brainer. (How many cheap pairs have been bought over the years?) Felco is the best. Their pruners come with removable, cleanable, sharpen-able and replaceable parts.
Garden Bucket. My dad gave me two big, green plastic buckets many years ago and they're wonderful. One is usually filled with potting soil and the other is lugged around the garden while weeding and dead-heading. Tubs are available now in pretty, bright colors.
Garden Labor. This gift is very economical but does require some hard work on the giver's part. Offer the gift of garden labor–whether for a certain number of hours or for a dedicated project.
Thoughtful. Magazine Subscription. The best national gardening magazine is Fine Gardening. Plant hardiness is always considered and the excellent content is well-researched. Other good options include Northern Gardener, Horticulture and Garden Design.
Garden Books. Depending on the needs of the gardener on your list, choices include beautiful books of inspiration as well as hands-on/how-to books. A must-have for the serious gardener is Michael Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Just in time for gift-giving, a sixth edition was recently published.
Calendars. Who doesn't adore calendars? On the first of each month, it's refreshing to turn the page to a brand new image. The themes are numerous: country gardens, herb gardens, bouquets, flower depictions by individual artists like Georgia O'Keeffe and, obviously, flowers of all kinds.
Gift certificate. Give a gift certificate to a favorite local nursery or greenhouse. An editor at Fine Gardening summed it up perfectly: "Honestly, what every gardener really wants for the holidays is for it to be spring so they can buy plants."
Over the top. Garden Bench. Nothing is more traditional in garden furnishings than a teak bench. Whether left to weather naturally to a soft, silvery gray or treated periodically to retain the rich color, teak is classic, handsome and sturdy. For a special touch, personalize the bench with a commemorative brass plaque.
Fabulous Container. Many gardeners spend the majority of their budget on plants, disregarding the pot. My take is just the opposite. The most important consideration in container garden design is the container itself. The combination of a simple ivy and an antique Grecian urn is exquisite but a plastic terra cotta pot is dreadful no matter how it is planted. Give a fabulous container (or two!) whether metal, stone, concrete or terra cotta.
Finally... Let's treat ourselves a bit during these winter holidays. A special indulgence of mine is a scented candle. Who wouldn't succumb to its flickering light and wafting fragrance?
I've liked several from Aveda over the years but my two current favorites are by Thymes. Naia is a lovely, clean scent made from water lilies, among other flowers and plants, and is presented in a glass painted with pale blue polka dots. Frasier Fir is refreshing and evergreen-y and should be enjoyed all winter.
This column also appears in the Askov American, Askov, Minnesota.
