All I want for Christmas
Here is my holiday dream list. Maybe one of these ideas will inspire your gift-giving.
A garden trip: A day trip, a weekend, or an all-out splurge on a European Garden Tour. Each fits a style, a price, and a schedule.
I like day trips. If I’ve never been there before, a bus trip provides easy transportation, guides, and no stressful driving and parking. Driving yourself has its advantages like your own schedule, the chance to stop and sightsee along the way, and some people actually like to drive.
Weekend and longer trips should be planned with the recipient so that the destination and such are suited to the person.
Battery-powered tools: I have grown to love those tools with rechargeable batteries. We have the leaf blower, trimmer, chain saw, lawn mower, and recently added a snow blower. They are lighter than their gas-powered cousins, and recent improvements in battery power make them comparable to mid-powered gas alternatives.
Note, they are still heavy, but not as bad as gas ones. I also appreciate that we don’t have to buy and store gas, just remember to charge the batteries.
Good hand tools: I love hand trowels that are strong, easily cleaned and comfortable to handle. Cute decorative sets are okay for wall decor or adding into a display container but usually bend and break at the first use. Look at fine pointed shears for close trimming, ratcheting pruners for thick stems or hands weakened by age or illness, machetes are fun for attacking weedy, overgrown patches and a good pocket knife helps open those tough bags that hold soils and mulches.
Quality hats and gloves: I usually have several wide-brimmed woven hats and can always appreciate another one. Make sure they are durable, have some sort of strap or tie to keep them from blowing away, and fit. Like many hats, they do come in sizes. I use a large one. The smaller ones sit atop my head like some exaggerated cartoon character would wear.
When it comes to gloves, there are a lot of choices. Simple packs of heavy-duty work gloves are good for short-term use on messy jobs. Soft and supple ones pamper your hands as you do light weeding or floral arranging but are quickly destroyed on rough surfaces.
Landscape gloves are reinforced on the palms and fingertips to withstand the abrasive surfaces of bricks, stones, gravel and other hardscape materials. Gloves that extend up the forearm protect from thorns and sharp stems or keep itchy materials away from sensitive skin. Dipped or coated gloves make working in damp conditions easier and much more pleasant.
Thin, nitrile gloves give added protection under other gloves and be sure to have some heavy-duty ones that are safe for any strong chemicals or irritating plant saps.
Hand lotion, soap, nail brush and simple manicure tools:
Soil is rough on the hands so they need a bit of pampering after a gardening session. The soap and brush get the basic layer off, but you still need tools to get that final dirt from under the nails, scissors to trim torn cuticles and broken nails and files to get rid of ragged nails. Then, you need a rich, soothing cream to restore moisture and treat dry skin.
Plant company or garden supply store gift certificates: Generally, I dislike receiving gift cards, but those used to buy plants are always welcome. The catalogs and online sales are already up and there are a few things that I’d buy myself. A chance to try something new or replace an old favorite and a pleasant memory of the person who gave me that gift certificate to purchase a plant-totally guiltfree.
There are a few hardy gardenias (Zone 6) has been around for a season or two and I think it’s time for me to try one. I have’t selected a particular one yet and I’m still not sure just how hardy it will be but I love gardenias and would love to give it a try.
I’d love to add a bed of wild Canada ginger (Asarum canadense) as a groundcover under a group of deciduous trees. It’s slow spreading but likes the shade and forms a dense spreading mat. My caryopteris plants died a few years ago. They are short-lived but form such a beautiful bed of silvery leaves and bright blue flowers in late summer. It would be nice to replace them, late summer color, bright blue flowers and a bee favorite make them very tempting.
Flower-themed jewelry: I have a lot of jewelry, but I’m always drawn to jewelry, particularly silver jewelry that depicts a garden favorite. In my case, that is lily-of-the-valley or calla lily depictions. Your favorite gardener will probably have their own favorites.
I hope my fantasy gift list inspires your search for perfect presents that your gardening loved ones and friends. I’m still waiting to hear what you’d love to receive.