Gifts for the gardener: Give something that will appreciated all year, or for many years
It's December, and we are all making lists and checking them over and over to be sure we have Christmas plans in place and gifts in mind for everyone.
Maybe I can help with ideas for the gardeners and the want-to-be gardeners on your list.
Doug Welsh included a section about gifts for gardeners in his book "Texas Garden Almanac," so here are some suggestions he makes (and some I added) to help since Christmas is just a few weeks away.
Books and magazines
There are so many books and magazines from which to choose, but he recommends focusing on the ones written for Texas gardening.
You can find Texas gardening books on general gardening and others on specific topics such as perennials, herbs, fruits, vegetables and landscaping.
Texas gardening magazines provide timely articles and gardening ideas.
Garden calendars are produced by a variety of groups, and many of them provide educational tips to help the gardener know what to do and when.
Equipment and tools
Lawn equipment such as lawn mowers can make lawn care easier. (I want to add that this also applies to other tools such as garden tillers, weed eaters, and leaf blowers. If you purchase a battery-powered tool, an extra battery will be useful)
Gardeners never can have too many pairs of gloves, and a nice pair of gloves will reduce the wear and tear on a gardener’s hands. (I want to add that if the gardener grows roses or other thorny plants, rose gardening gloves or thorn proof pruning gloves will be a welcome gift to protect both the gardener’s arms and hands)
Pruning tools always are appreciated. They vary in price and quality, so this is an opportunity to upgrade a gardener’s pruning shears, loppers, pole pruners, hedge clippers, or pruning saws.
Planting tools are appreciated. These include shovels, rakes, hoes and hand tools that a gardener will find useful.
A gardener can never have too many pruning and planting tools. These items can be accidentally left out in the garden or misplaced in the garden shed, so it is nice to have some easily accessible in the front yard and others to use in the back yard.
Accessories
Items such as pottery, wind chimes, bird feeders, bird baths, fountains and water gardens can be used to accessorize a landscape.
This is an opportunity to add a theme, twist or fun item to a garden.
This is also a great time to buy something your gardener friends might not buy for themselves.
Plants
Plants make great gifts. They celebrate the holiday, and they can create special memories for the gardener.
Trees are good gifts because they provide a lifetime of enjoyment.
Many gardeners like and enjoy fruit trees so they are welcome gifts.
Garden tours
Some companies specialize in travel tours that focus on fine gardens all over the world, gardens across the state, or events featuring gardens.
Gift cards
If you are unsure about what a gardener would like or use, then gift cards to local nurseries and garden centers are welcome gifts.
I think my husband must have read an article on gifts for gardeners because one year he gave me a beautiful red garden tiller with a big red bow on it. I wasn’t particularly excited or happy that Christmas morning, but I soon found out that was the most useful, thoughtful gift he could have given me.
These are just some ideas for holiday gifts you know your family and friends will enjoy. You might leave a list or pictures of gardening items lying around your house so your family and friends will get the hint about what you would like to unwrap on Christmas morning. If there is something you really want listed here, then cut out this article and highlight it so they don’t have to think about what to get for you!
Merry Christmas, and hopefully you will receive the gardening items that will make your dreams come true.
We hope you will like our Facebook page and visit bcmgtx.org for Big Country Master Gardener future events.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Gifts for the gardener: Give something that will appreciated all year
