Gardeners are a varied lot. Some prefer growing flowers and herbs and others prefer growing vegetables. Some follow detailed plans, while others prefer to "let the seeds fall where they may." If you have gardeners on your holiday gift list this year, consider giving them a gift based on their personal gardening style. Here are some ideas to get you started.
The Garden Bookworm: For the avid reader, you can't go wrong with gardening books or magazine subscriptions, especially publications that are regionally specific. Don't forget to throw in a pretty bookmark!
The Plant Collector: This one is easy. Find a rare or unusual plant and arrange to have it shipped to the gardener on your list. If the plant can't be shipped until after the holidays, tide the recipient over by creating a little booklet of information containing the plant's history, care instructions, and the expected shipping date.
The Bohemian: Free-spirited gardeners that are always on the move, will appreciate a piece of garden art they can take with them wherever they go. Try a funky stepping stone, kinetic art whirligigs, or an outdoor wall hanging.
The Traditionalist: A gardener with a traditional style will appreciate the form and function of the classic garden hod. Designed for harvesting and washing plants, fruits, and vegetables, the garden hod lends itself to hundreds of other uses--indoors and out--any time of the year.
The Herbalist: A Rosemary tree will be a welcome addition to any herb gardener's collection. Around the holiday season, they are often trimmed into a traditional Christmas tree shape and sold in pots decorated for the holidays. With ample sun, Rosemary trees will survive nicely indoors until spring arrives, when they are easily transferred to the garden or transplanted to an outdoor planter.
The Birder: Set them up with a container filled with seeds, suet cakes, a small decorative birdhouse, and a field guide to the birds common in their area.
The Houseplant Expert: Give them a set of tools ideally sized for the job of taking care of indoor potted plants. A mini trowel, cultivator, hand-held mister, and moisture meter are perfect for the job.
The Garden Fashionista: The perfect garden apparel offers fashion combined with function and comfort. Look for t-shirts and long-sleeved shirts made from cotton, a pretty pair of work gloves, a wide-brimmed hat, or colorful waterproof boots.
The Organizer: These gardeners will love a box full of plant markers and tags, marking pens, and a pretty garden journal or calendar for keeping records.
The Potage Gardener: Good gifts for the kitchen gardener include exotic spices, a recipe book featuring fresh vegetables and herbs, and small bottles of assorted oils and vinegars.
The Well-Kempt Gardener: Give them a basket filled with an assortment of soaps, hand-cleaners, lotions, lip balms, and a pretty nail brush.
The Flower Arranger: Fill a basket with a few inexpensive vases, colored marbles, floral foam, small gauge wire, and a top it off with a how-to book on flower arranging.
The Gardener That Has Everything: Gift certificates are always welcome because there is always tools to replace and seeds or plants to buy. Most nurseries and garden centers (including those online) now offer gift certificates in denominations to suit every budget.
A great gift for many gardeners is a book or web site that can expose them to something they haven't tried before. We got into flowers and bushes that attract butterflies this summer. One year we tried some fragrant plantings. Helps spice up the gardening season. Here's one on fragrance.
www.oldhouseweb.com/
It may seem a little far out but as a gardener I would love to be given some top quality potting soil, just never seem to have enough. Thanks much, Sue W. Sanford, FL
