by Lydia Holley November 30, 2020
Do you have a friend or family member you exchange gifts with who gardens? If so, give them a fun or unusual gift which indulges their passion. Whether you know a bit about the type of gardening they prefer – either vegetable or ornamental – or not, you can give a gift which they will love.
If your gift recipient is a vegetable gardener, harvest baskets are always handy to have. Bins such as orchard racks for harvest storage, root storage bins, or stands for bushel baskets can show off their harvests and hard work in an organized way. If you have a tight budget, try giving a packet or two of unusual seeds, such as orange tomatoes, white cucumbers, or red lettuces.
If they are interested in pollinators, consider giving a mason bee house, bird feeder, hummingbird feeder, butterfly house, or ladybug castle. You might want to pair a butterfly house with a butterfly puddler. Another great gift for a gardener who prefers ornamental plantings are daffodil bulbs. Besides the commonly found yellow kinds, there are daffodils which bloom in white, peach, a hint of green, or even with ruffled petals. Your gift recipient will think of you each spring when their daffodils bloom.
For either ornamental or vegetable gardeners, garden tool totes and garden aprons are handy. Giant sunflower seeds make a fun gift for any gardener. Since many gardeners harvest seeds, seed envelopes are an inexpensive gift which make for better storage than plastic baggies. Pair your gift of seed envelopes with a personalized stamp. Your gardening friend will be excited and proud to keep or give away their extra seeds.
Many gardeners like to read and there are books on every subject of gardening. Some of my favorite gardening books are historical or biographical but there are also gardening how-to guides, books on specific plants, humorous gardening books, gardening journals, and even garden-themed coloring books. A must-have for every gardener in East Texas is the Henderson County Master Gardener Association’s Gardening Guide book. Call the number below to purchase a copy.
Even if your gift recipient only grows houseplants, every gardener could use some nice soaps and lotions. Gifts for composting can be scaled to fit, too. You can find both large outdoor tumblers or small buckets which fit under the sink. If you need a humorous gift for an exchange game, wrap up a bag of manure, then watch your gardener friends fight for it.
For more information, call 903-675-6130, email hendersonCMGA@gmail.com.
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