by Jes-c French, Somervell County Master Gardener
The holidays are right around the corner, and now is a great time to start thinking about gifts. For those hard-to-shop-for loved ones, sometimes a gardening gift is just the solution you need. Of course, you can’t go wrong with a Poinsettia or a Christmas Cactus, but I’d like to offer a few different suggestions.
norfolk-island-pine-araucaria_heterophylla
Houseplants are a perfect gift year round, as outdoor temperatures won’t hinder their growth. I’d recommend Geraniums for their beautiful flowers. Another popular indoor plant around Christmas time is the Norfolk Pine. Don’t worry; they make beautiful houseplants, even after the holidays have ended.
For those who are planning a garden, seeds would also make a nice gift. Carrots, turnips, spinach, radishes, lettuce, collards, beets and broccoli are some of the vegetables that can be planted by seeds shortly after the New Year in Somervell County.
An indoor herb garden might make a good gift for those who like to cook, even if they don’t traditionally spend their time gardening. Gardening gifts don’t have to be limited to seeds or plants, either. For the gardeners in your life who learn well from books, contact a Master Gardener to see the gardening library at the Extension Office.