It’s Almost Christmas

Hoe, Hoe, Hoe! Shopping for your favorite gardener? Trying to think of a gift that they will love? Pay close attention to any hints they may drop as Christmas approaches. They may be telling you just what they would like to receive this Christmas, if you just listen.

If you don’t get any hints, here are several ideas for gifts gardeners will love that will make your shopping list shorter:

Just wrap it up and add a bow:

• Start with an inexpensive miniature Christmas tree and add small items that pamper the gardener: gloves, hand cream, a small visor cap and a gardening apron
• Decorate a small shovel with red and white streamers to resemble a candy-cane and add a big red bow.
• Purchase an inexpensive, plastic box, and fill it with small gardening tools like a weeder, spade, trimming shears, etc. Cover with wrapping paper and add a colorful bow. Voila! A handy box to keep small gardening tools from getting lost.
• Decorate a small, inexpensive Christmas wreath with flower or vegetable seeds. Always appreciated.

Don’t break the bank: Christmas gifts for gardeners don’t have to be expensive. Often the most appreciated gifts are things most gardeners would love have but don’t get around to buying for themselves.

• A subscription to their favorite gardening magazine
• Seeds for kitchen herb garden
• Gardening guides they can keep on their book shelf for reference

Add a bit of glitter: One useful holiday gift that is sure to please is a nice, big hat to protect the gardener from the sun. Decorate it with tinsel garland and a bow. You can even put a small window plant like gloxinia or Christmas cactus in the center. The hat can be used without the Christmas garland and the window plant will brighten any rainy day.

Include something tasty: Don’t fall into the trap of thinking garden tools or accessories are dull and boring. Any real gardener would certainly disagree. If you are giving small items like gloves or seed packets include some candy, chocolate, or homemade cookies wrapped in colored foil to make the tasty and useful.

Consider gifts for the garden: Gifts for the garden itself are always appreciated:

• A small garden bench or stepping stones
• Gazing balls are pretty and add eye catching charm to any garden
• Bird bath and bird feeders come in wide range of prices

It’s really not hard to find great gifts for the gardener in your life. But if you are still stumped for gift ideas, visit a nearby garden center and ask what’s popular this year in your price range. You may be surprised.