|
GIFTS FOR GARDENERS The holidays are fast approaching and you want to give a special gift to a gardener. Here are a few of my favorite gardening gifts plus one very special gift for a very special gardener. • Pruning Shears/Saws - A great pair of pruning shears is always appreciated. I have several that I really like. The Felco 7 bypass pruner has a handle that rotates which helps alleviate hand fatigue and it also works with about 30% less effort, an important consideration for feminine or aging hands or for continuous use. The handles will feel awkward at first but as soon as you get used to them you’ll love them. Corona and Fiskars make several models of pruners that offer good quality for light pruning. A Japanese pruning saw works when you pull as opposed to American saws, which cut on the forward stroke. They’re easier to use and make nice clean cuts.. • Bulb Planters – If you’ve just finished planting hundreds of bulbs, you know what a chore it can be. A high quality dibble planting tool makes easy work of planting small bulbs. Make sure it’s cast from a solid piece of metal so it won’t fall apart. Sandvik is a good brand. Cheap ones may work if you have great soil but I need a very durable one. • Bird feeders – I can always use another bird feeder. I like tube feeders for small birds and large capacity feeders for those larger birds with voracious appetites. Don’t forget hangers. I like the freestanding shepherd crooks because the cats can’t climb them or jump that high. I also like a water heater for the birdbath that makes it easy to provide fresh water all winter. • Digging tools – Several things come to mind, the first one being a Hori-Hori garden knife. This is a Japanese knife that is slightly scooped and great for transplanting, cutting and general purpose planting of perennials. A good quality garden trowel is always appreciated. My favorite shovel for digging holes is a short handled shovel with a long narrow blade. It’s sometimes called a tile or drain spade. This is the very best for making nice edges on holes for planting trees. I use it in combination with a regular shovel which works better to remove loose soil. • Plants – What gardener doesn’t like plants whether it’s an indoor plant or a gift certificate for plants next spring. During the holidays, I love the traditional Poinsettias and Amaryllis. Orchids make great gifts because their blooms last so long, much longer than cut flowers. Don’t forget a pretty pot in which to place the plant. A gift certificate from your favorite nursery will be much appreciated next spring. Include an offer to help with the planting if it’s for a tree. • Travel, A very extraordinary gift – When winter snows and cold prevent gardening, it’s really special to go on a trip to visit gardens in warmer climates. This February, SFBG is sponsoring a great trip to tour gardens in Santa Barbara, California. That very special gardener might just think this is the best Christmas present of the year. Call Sara Cunningham at 986-1599 for details.
|