The good news is that a gardener should be someone easy to check off your Christmas gift list. There are so many good things for gardeners – pots, tools, bulbs, seeds and much more. Here are a few things I’ve found this year that might be a welcome gift for the gardener in your life.
“The popular featherweight hose” comes in 25, 50 and 100 foot lengths. It’s 45 percent lighter than traditional hoses, but it’s also durable and flexible. It’s easy to keep ready for use on the porch, in the greenhouse or at the garden. This hose has zinc fittings and a textured surface for a good grip. You can find this hose at Gardener’s Supply, www.gardeners.com.
A long day of kneeling in the garden bed can leave a gardener sore and stiff. The “ultra cushion kneeling pad” available through White Flower Farm, www.whiteflowerfarm.com, can help a gardener stay comfortable while working. The pad is two inches thick, 20 inches long and 12 inches wide. The pad also has a waterproof covering over two layers of cushioning foam.
Every gardener needs a great pair of boots to keep their feet dry and comfortable in the garden. Boots are so handy because they can be easily slipped on and off. “Bogs” brand boots are great for men or for women – and they have “handles” to help pull them on. “Chooka” brand boots are available for women and come in a variety of bright colors and patterns for the gardener that wants to look good while gardening. Both brands of boots are available through Plow and Hearth, www.plowhearth.com.
There are certain tools that every gardener owns that become indispensible. Something extra special and heirloom quality can found through Blanc Creatives in Charlottesville, Va. This blacksmith shop crafts hand forged trowel and rake hand tools. Forged from high quality carbon steel, the metal should last a lifetime with proper care. The wooden handles are repurposed from downed Virginia hardwoods. Check out these beautiful tools at www.blanccreatives.com.
Does the gardener you know like to can or preserve and give or sell homegrown and homemade foods from the garden? Williams Sonoma has a very neat embossing tool that can be personalized to say “From the Garden of” with your gardener’s name. Tags are available, too, or you can use the embossing tool on your own tags. Look for this item at www.williamsonoma.com in the “canning and preserving” items.
For gardeners like to plant in pots, Kinsman Company has a large array of planters with liners. The planters are stand alone planters or planters that hang from walls, windows, overhead or on deck rails. The liners are used to line the planter for a natural look on the outside while holding the plant material inside the liner. Although the liners will degrade over time, the planters can be used season after season. A variety of sizes can be found at www.kinsmangarden.com.
Never forget that gift certificate to a bulb, seed or plant company is always a great gift for a gardener, too.
The holiday lights will hardly be down before the mailboxes will be stuffed with gardening catalogs brimming with photos of plants just waiting to be grown in your gardener’s bed.
Questions or comments related to gardening? Contact Joleen at missourigardener@hotmail.com
