By If you have a loved one who enjoys gardening, whether vegetables or flowers, here are some gift ideas that are sure to please:
“All New Square Foot Gardening” by Mel Bartholomew – Even though this book has been out for several years, it’s a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to grow vegetables in a small space. If your garden gets overrun with weeds by midsummer, causing you to throw in the towel, this book will show you how to avoid that problem and continue growing food all the way to the first frost, square foot by square foot. $24.99
Bionic Women’s Rose Gloves – Passionate rose growers know the pain of pruning and caring for their beloved thorny bushes. Spare them the pokes and scratches with these comfortable, thorn-proof, extra long and breathable goatskin gloves. $33 on Amazon.
Pikes Original Maine Garden Hod Harvest Basket – Holds just enough fruit and veggies but it won’t get too heavy, plus it’s easy to clean and made of all natural earth-friendly materials. As a bonus, it’s made in the USA! $45 at mainegarden.com
Spring is Coming Planting Kit – Help your gardener fight their post-holiday winter blues. Why not put together everything they need to get those cold weather crops going INSIDE so that when March is here they’ll have strong and healthy seedlings ready to go into the garden? The Stack and Grow Light System is a compact little indoor farm. Pair it with a couple of seed starting trays, some organic seed starting mix, as well as your favorites of the following seeds: broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, buttercrunch and romaine lettuce (peas, arugula, mixed greens and other cold crops should be seeded directly outside in early March.) $169 at gardeners.com and Wilson’s Garden Center sells all vegetable seeds year round!
A Hand Blown Glass Hummingbird Feeder – Stunningly beautiful and handmade in the USA by glass artists Steve and Audrey Kennedy. Buying direct from an artist is always a great idea and in this case, your hummingbirds will thank you. $48-$72 from KennedyGlassStudio on Etsy.com
A Powell Gardens Membership – One of my favorite botanical gardens, it’s more intimate than the one in St. Louis, and a bit closer to home. Their member programs are truly unique (farm-to-table dinners, garden parties and rare plant auctions.) Plus, their calendar is packed with family-friendly events so this is sure to make any mom or grandmother very happy. Memberships start at just $55. Of course, the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis is a great choice too if your gardener prefers east over west. powellgardens.org or missouribotanicalgardens.org
A Concrete Garden Gnome – Take some of the load off your gardener by giving them their very own garden gnome. A concrete gnome with no paint will last much longer outdoors and get more done in the wee hours. Bringing him into the garage during the winter will ensure he lasts decades. Always attractive and charming in the day, and hard at work in the night. Make sure to choose one that doesn’t appear mischievous or you will inevitably regret your purchase when your gardener can’t find her hand trowel (they love to hide those!) $45-60 at Wilson’s Garden Center.
