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.
Books The Complete Book of Composting, J.I. Rodale. The Garden Primer, by Barbara Damrosch
Catalogs FarmTek, 800-327-6835, a big, fat, wonderful catalog for all things horticultural and agricultural. Gardener's Supply Company, 800-427-3363, www.gardeners.com, very nice catalog that stocks my favorite garden plant markers and my latest fun purchase, spiral plant supports made of brightly painted, heavy-duty steel.
To report Emerald Ash Borer Call the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Arrest the Pest Hotline at 651-201-6684 or 888-545-6684 Email to Arrest.The.Pest@state.mn.us
Books Burpee: The Complete Vegetable and Herb Gardener: A Gide to Growing Your Garden Organically, by Karen Davis Cutler and David Cavagnaro. Gardening in Minnesota, by Melinda Myers Growing & Using Herbs Successfully, by Betty E. M. Jacobs The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping, by Rosalind Creasy The Garden Primer, by Barbara Damrosch The Truth About Organic Gardening, by Jeff Gillman
Magazines Northern Gardener, March/April 2009, The Best…and the Rest, www.northerngardener.org
Websites extension.umn.edu, including gardeninfo/ygnews
arboretum.umn.edu The website for the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is filled with wonderful information…whether a member or not.
extension.umn.edu/gardeninfo/ygnews This is the home for Yard and Garden News, a monthly newsletter (sign up for free notification of publication) which is well-edited by Dr. David Zlesak and filled with fabulous entries covering a broad range of timely, gardening topics. Plus, all past editions are available online if you need to double-check an item.
extension.umn.edu/gardeninfo/weedid This site facilitates identification of common weeds by category: Broadleaf, Grass, Sedge, Woody and Moss. The thumbnail photographs on each category page are small and perhaps difficult to identify, but once the offending weed is chosen, images and information specific to that weed are excellent.
gopherstateonecall.org Most Minnesotans know about this free service–now available online–to have underground utility locations flagged. Always use this service before any excavation is ventured.
northerngardener.org I'll never forgive the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, which has been in existence since 1866, for bowing to pressure and changing its venerable name. What a shame. Northern Gardener is now the name of the organization's website and publication.
plantinfo.umn.edu A collection of book and magazine citations to plant information and images produced by the staff of Andersen Horticultural Library (from the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum) and Magrath Library. Search options include: Plan and Seed Sources, Book and Magazine Citations to Plant Info and Images and Selected Links.
soiltest.cfans.umn.edu All gardeners should get their soil tested! Good soil is, absolutely, the key ingredient for success. (Ok, I'm off my soapbox now.) For $15, gardeners can send soil samples to the U for analysis. The test results will yield critical information about texture, pH, nutrient levels and percentage of organic matter.
sustainable-gardening.com This friendly, factual and comprehensive source for information about sustainable gardening is managed by Susan Harris, a garden writer, coach and part of the clever Garden Ranters.
sustland.umn.edu Another site devoted to sustainable gardening, this one hosted by the U of Minnesota under the auspices of SULIS, Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series.
taunton.com/finegardening/pguide/pronunciation-guide-to-botanical-latin.aspx A wonderful site with the proper pronunciation of Latin names. Make a substantial bet with a friend about how to pronounce–correctly–Clematis or Weigela.
taunton.com/finegardening/plants/wallpaper.aspx Are you bored with your computer screen? Want a fresh, seasonal desktop? Go often to this site and choose from among many gorgeous photographs.
Following is a list of my favorite greenhouses and nurseries in the Twin Cities area. This list is based on countless hours of serious research and study…….and with lofty credit card balances as proof!
Bachman's on Lyndale This flagship store is one of the reasons I love living in Minnesota. I've never seen its equal anywhere. Allow plenty of time to wander through the entire place–outdoor nursery, greenhouses and fresh flower and gift areas. If you can walk out of this place without a huge bouquet of cut flowers, a green plant or two and perhaps a trinket, you are made of stern stuff. Oh, and if you need another enticement, smack dab in the middle of the store is a Patrick's Bakery. Choose from delicious quiches, salads, sandwiches (I can vouch for most of them.), French pastries and a glass of wine and take your tray to enjoy under an umbrella in the greenhouse. 6010 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, 612-861-7311, bachmans.com
Bachman's in Maplewood A much smaller version of the mother shop (alas, no Patrick's) but closer to our neck of the woods. 2600 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood, 651-770-0531, bachmans.com
Gerten's Absolutely adore the quantity, quality and selection of annuals, perennials and woody plants. Vast presentation of hardscapes–stone, rock, paving brick, water gardening. Huge greenhouses, too! 5500 Blaine Avenue, Inver Grove Heights, 651-450-1501, gertens.com
Highland Nursery This spot is on my way to the airport…very handy! Even though the nursery doesn't have lots of space, the displays are full and so it's critical to look closely at everything. I never leave empty-handed. 1742 7th Street West, St. Paul, 651-698-1708, thehighlandnursery.com
Kelley & Kelley Nursery and Landscape Design This is the farthest west of the Twin Cities even I'll travel for plants but I wouldn't miss it. The old greenhouses are charming! I always time my annual trip for early May when the adjacent woodland garden is absolutely alive with Virginia bluebells. Plus, Steve Kelley, the owner and journalism graduate, writes a wonderful newsletter. 2325 South Watertown Road, Long Lake, 952-473-7337
Outback Nursery & Landscaping Hands-down, the best source for native trees, shrubs, vines, wildflowers, ferns and grasses. It's a bit of a drive but well worth the effort. 15280 110th Street South, Hastings, 651-438-2771, outbacknursery.com
Squire House Gardens I still miss the "town shop" Richard had on Grand Avenue in St. Paul but the original "country shop" is a must-visit. In addition to the shop (actually the lower level of a home) full of well-selected tools, gifts, containers and a seasonal nursery, the surrounding gardens are enchanting with paths, arbors, pool and simply lovely plantings. I'll never forget the mockorange in full, fragrant bloom! 3390 St. Croix Trail South, Afton, 651-436-8080, squirehousegardens.com
Tangletown Gardens Scott Endres and Dean Englemann started this extraordinary nursery and garden shop after working at Highland Nursery. They grow much of their own offerings at a farm outside the Twin Cities and are to be commended for staying au courant by trying the best of the new cultivars. Visit in any season for incredible inspiration. 5353 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, 612-822-4769, tangletowngardens.com
Tonkadale Greenhouse I never tell my husband when I'm going to Tonkadale because it's quite a drive but so worth it! The best selection of indoor garden plants in the city. Also, I always borrow some of their ideas for container gardens. 3739 Tonkawood Road, Minnetonka, 951-938-6480, tonkadale.com
Waldoch Farm Garden Center Mary and Kathy grow an excellent selection of top-notch stock. Plus, they are always around–somewhere on the premises–and have always been amenable to any silly question I've ever asked. The farm also grows fabulous vegetables so if you visit during harvest season, you can pick your own or buy already-picked from the market stand. 8174 Lake Drive, Lino Lakes, 651-780-1207, waldochfarm.com
As a former employee of the cut flower industry, I am extremely partial to flower shops. Even though the hours were ghastly during the big holidays of Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, I adored walking into my big coolers which were dazzling to the eye with buckets and buckets of fresh flowers and redolent, even in the chill, of various flower fragrances.
Bachman's on Lyndale Bachman's volume is so large that cut flowers are bought direct from growers and brokers and not through a wholesale company. Their stock is, therefore, extremely fresh. Growers box up their precious contents during the day and ship overnight via air. I've seen a Bachman's semi trailer parked at the Northwest Airlines cargo terminal ready to be loaded early the next morning. When you visit, indulge in a huge bouquet of those fresh flowers and don't forget to eat! Smack dab in the middle of the store is a Patrick's Bakery. Choose from delicious quiches, salads, sandwiches (I can vouch for most of them.), French pastries and a glass of wine and take your tray to enjoy under an umbrella in the greenhouse. 6010 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, 612-861-7311, bachmans.com
Camrose Hill Flower Studio and Farm Cindie Sinclair is renown for her lush, romantic style. If you are ever in Stillwater, don't miss her shop full of gorgeous flowers and gifts and if you want to get married in a beautiful setting, check out her farm. 233 South Second Street, Stillwater, 651-351-9631, camrosehillflowers.com
Natures Harvest A unique, sophisticated flower shop that I try to visit many times during the year to be inspired by the ever-changing décor. Fresh ideas for everything from cut flower bouquets to indoor garden containers. 320 East Wayzata Boulevard, Wayzata, 952-473-4687, naturesharvesthome.com
Roger Beck I have followed Roger Beck to three locations in Minneapolis. I can dawdle in his current shop for hours, admiring his fabulous selection of cut flowers, as well as vases, containers, cards and the most beautiful ribbon selection in the Twin Cities. 1100 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, 612-871-7080, rogerbeckflorist.com
I recently read about an online source for soil information. The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) developed a programming tool that allows individual property owners access to extensive data, including depth to water table, potential for ponding or flooding, organic-matter content, salinity level, permeability, available water capacity, soil horizons, geology and other topics. Plus, it's free!
Unfortunately, Pine County is one of the few in the country with incomplete data. But if you have property outside Pine County, check it out. Plus, keep watching the site. NRCS is constantly updating both the information and the tool.
Go to www.soils.usda.gov and click on Introducing Web Soil Survey 2.0. Then click on the big green button that says, START WSS.
www.tashatudor.com Tasha Tudor has inspired me ever since attending a horticulture seminar many years ago. One of the speakers, Tovah Martin, had written a book about her and was signing copies. That book, Tasha Tudor's Garden, has since sparked countless personal and professional landscape designs, especially those involving perennial plant and color combinations.
Tasha created and tends the gorgeous gardens surrounding her rustic Vermont home. I love her gardening style: lush, full, old-fashioned, naturalistic and romantic. Aside from her prowess as a gardener, she purposefully lives in a unique, charming and quite un-21st-centry-like manner. I won't write more…please visit her website. You'll be enchanted!
www.logees.com Several years ago I created a very personal space, dubbed it The Garden Room and painted the door purple. The room had eastern and southern exposure which was wonderful for a wide variety of plants, many begun as seedlings from Logee's.
Logee's has been growing tropical plants since 1892 and the outfit is top-notch all the way. I grew camellias, passion flower vines, purple and hot pink bougainvilleas, an African gardenia, many species of begonias and a big hanging basket of winter jasmine, all mail-ordered from Logee's. My favorite plant, though, was a Clerodendrum quadriloculare 'Fireworks'. All winter I watched, enthralled, when as many as 100 thin pink tubes grew out from each bud and exploded into a profusion of tiny white flowers. Spectacular!
