Spoil those who work in soil with dirt-free Christmas gifts
The very best Christmas present for a gardener costs absolutely nothing.
All you have to do is say, “What a lovely garden! Won’t you tell me about it?”
But if you feel the need to give something tangible, you can still stay on a tight budget.
Scope out this list of ideas that’ll please both gardeners and penny-pinchers.
■ Watering can from Ikea (99 cents)
Trust the Swedish homegoods retailer to come up with an indoor watering can that works well, costs next to nothing and looks kinda cool, too.
This model holds 41 ounces — enough to water half a dozen plants — and is made of recycled plastic.
It’s not available online, so you’ll need to pick it up at a store, two of which are located in Ohio: Delaware, near Columbus; and West Chester, near Cincinnati. (For details, visit http:// www.ikea.com/us/en/.)
■ Gardening apps (Most are either free or inexpensive; iOS/Android compatibility varies.)
Would your favorite gardener like his own assistant, mentor or expert? The right app can fill that role; here’s a sampling of what’s out there:
GrowIt! lets you join a community of gardeners who share photos, experiences and more.
Leafsnap “uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species.”
Sun Seeker provides info in augmented reality about the sun’s path — handy to know when you’re siting a gazebo or designing a flower bed.
■ “The Coloring Book of Cards and Envelopes: Summertime” by Rebecca Jones (Nosy Crow, $10.99)
Whether you’re shopping for a crayon-wielding kid or an adult with a rainbow of fine-tip Sharpies, this clever book promises hours of coloring fun.
First, your artist can color intricate black-and-white line drawings depicting summery nature themes such as flowers and sea life.
Then, she can remove the perforated pages and fold them into cards and matching envelopes. Maybe she’ll even mail one to you!
■ 2018 succulent calendar by Debra Lee Baldwin (at www.zazzle.com, $22.15)
Succulents are amazing plants. While they’re often easy to grow in a pot on a windowsill, they look like exotic undersea life forms, perhaps, or something that evolved in another galaxy.
Baldwin, an author and succulent expert, showcases their beauty and diversity in her fifth annual calendar, featuring a different photo for each month.
Busy gardeners will appreciate that the calendar grids boast ample space for scheduling and notes. (You’ll have plenty of room to record details on that upcoming plant sale.)
■ Stratus Precision Rain Gauge with mounting bracket ($49.95; usually less on Amazon)
Maybe a $50 rain gauge doesn’t belong on a list of affordable gifts, but I’ve had it with cheap versions. They crack, they leak or the numbers wear off.
This baby is advertised as accurate to within 1⁄100 inch and tough enough to stand up to all kinds of weather, including belowfreezing temperatures — so it can measure precipitation year-round.
Keeping track of rainfall is important for many garden activities — raising vegetables, starting seeds, planting trees — so a reliable gauge is a must-have.
Santa could even use one at the North Pole in his garden of reindeer treats.