Gardener's List of Gift Ideas

In case you're still stumped as to what to get the gardener on your gift list this year, here are a few suggestions:

Flower Press  
5-inch for $25.50 / 9-inch for $47.95 

It’s been my wish for several years to create my own herbarium, much as poet Emily Dickinson did in the late 1800s. Gathering specimens of flowers and plants from my own garden is a way for me to preserve the beauty and memories in a way that photographs cannot do. A flower press makes it so much easier and this one by Microfleur uses the microwave. I’ve had one for years and can attest to its ease of use and the good job it does. 

I have the 5-inch version, but it comes in a 9-inch size as well.


Online Herb-Drawing Class 
$50  from Val Web at The Illustrated Garden

Val Webb is the kind of artist I wish I could be. Her illustrations are charming and life-like and I never tire of seeing what she’s created. She’s also very generous. This year, she’s been providing illustrated monthly calendar pages that you can print out, free of charge. So when she announced an online class to learn how to draw six culinary herbs, I knew this was going on my Gardener's List of Gift Ideas. 

For just $50, beginning in January (through May), you can have access to videos and printed instructions on how to use colored pencils and watercolors to create your own art, at your own pace. She’ll also talk about the history of these herbs, and as long as supplies last, she’s sharing seeds from her own organically grown herb garden! For gift-giving, you'll get this beautiful gift certificate for the classes.

To sign up, visit her website, where you can also find more detailed information. 


Corona 1-inch Bypass Pruners with Adjustable Handle
List price: $26.11 ($21.25 at Amazon)

I have a lot of Corona tools in my tool shed, and I can honestly say that I like all of them. I'll also say that I have pruners from several different companies and there are a few that I especially like, including this one from Corona. All my Corona pruners work very well, but what makes this one a step above is that it's adjustable for smaller hands, like mine.

One pair of pruners is never enough for a gardener, so even if you know your favorite gardener has a pair of pruners already, you might want to think about giving a pair of these as a gift. They're perfect for that, because unlike many other pruners, one size really does fit all. 







Reusable Produce Bags 
5 color-tagged bags for $11.00. ($8.10 at Amazon) 

These see-through mesh bags from flip and tumble are great for storing fresh produce in and out of the refrigerator. You can take them to the grocery with you, cutting down on use of the plastic bags provided there. Of course, you can use them for lots of other things too and they’re machine-washable. I use mine all the time. 

Hanging Art Basket 
List price: $29.95 

Here’s something fun and funky! Toland Garden Products makes hanging baskets from the same UV-resistant fabric that outdoor flags are made from so they resist fading. There is a plastic liner with a drainage outlet and the entire thing collapses when not in use. The 14-inch baskets come in several patterns: Blue Marakesh, Paisley, Sunburst, By the Sea, Patriotic, Dragonfly, French, Spring Fuchsia, Garden Scallops, Damask, and Spring Blooms. 


Dramm One-Touch Shower and Stream 
List price: $16.99 

Truth be told, I’m a HUGE fan of all things Dramm. I use several different types of their handheld watering devices, their oscillating sprinkler (which is what turned me on to them in the first place), and this last summer I started using their ColorStorm hoses. Believe me when I say I’ve tried numerous watering devices and when you tally the score at the end of the day, Dramm comes out WAY ahead. 

This One-Touch Shower and Stream watering nozzle is one of my favorites. The shower setting is perfect for watering containers and flower beds, while the stream setting gives a stronger shot of water when you need it for cleaning things off. But what I love the most about it is the way you turn it off and on. The swivel bar on top is easy to use and it never gets loose or stuck. And like other products in the ColorStorm line, THEY COME IN SIX DIFFERENT COLORS! (Blue, green, red, orange, yellow, and purple. I'm a red girl myself.)


Tabletop Terrarium 
9"L x 5.75"W x 8.75"H Rectangular Terrarium $69.00 

Another favorite vendor of mine is H. Potter, which sells the most beautiful objects for your inside growing and out. I met Jerry Peed, the owner, at a trade show and found him to be personable while being very focused on carrying unique and high-quality products. I drooled all over his booth full of terrariums, trellises, and the like, and put several on my wish list. 

I already had an H. Potter terrarium and didn’t even know it when I purchased it at Longwood Gardens in 2006. I now have another, which is a tabletop Wardian case-type that is perfect for growing succulents. Usually, succulents aren’t recommended for enclosed spaces since they don’t like high humidity, but this one has a vent, allowing the potting medium to dry out sufficiently and excess humidity to escape. 

Check out all the wonderfulness that is H. Potter; this is just the tip of the iceberg!

Little House in the Suburbs by Deanna Caswell and Daisy Siskin 
List price: $22.99 ($15.63 on Amazon) 

I’ve read a lot of books this year, gardening and otherwise. Each focused on a different aspect of gardening, and it’s hard for me to pick just one that stands out as my favorite new book of the year. But I have to say that the one that gave me the most usable information presented in the most entertaining way while keeping it real was Little House in the Suburbs. 

Not everyone has the desire to be self-sufficient, but if you’re a gardener, you likely practice some aspect of it already. And if you don’t, you’re thinking about it. This is a good place to start. You can read my review here. 


Haven Brand Compost Tea
3-pack assortment for $12.95 w/ Free Shipping

The 3-pack of cow, horse, and alfalfa compost tea makes a great stocking stuffer and I swear by the cow version for my houseplants. Until I started using Moo Poo Tea, I never got a single orchid to rebloom. Now I've gotten nearly every single one to rebloom, including the Bratonia (formerly Miltassia) Shelob 'Tolkien'.  

Bratonia (formerly Miltassia) Shelob 'Tolkien'

Annie Haven is at the helm of this family-owned business, which she learned from her father while growing up in southern California. The manure comes from natural pasture-fed livestock, so you can be comfortable knowing you're using an all-natural product.

Membership to AHS (American Horticultural Society)
One year membership for $35.00

I’ve said before that this is one of the best values going in gardening. For just $35, you get all this: 

• The American Gardener magazine — six issues featuring the very best horticultural information, the latest plant selections, and practical advice to help you be a better gardener.
• Reciprocal Admissions Program — offers you free admission and other discounts at public gardens and arboreta across the nation. (This alone is worth the cost of membership!)
• Seed Exchange Program
• Exclusive online gardening resources — read past articles from The American Gardener on their website.
• Special discounts on all AHS educational programs.

Clarington Forge Planting Spear
$69.00

I cannot tell you the number of times I reach for this skinny little shovel when I’m in the garden. I use it for planting and transplanting in tight spaces and for planting bulbs. It’s great for removing deep-rooted weeds like dandelions and thistles. It goes deep and it’s forged, so it’s got some heft to it, making it perfect for just about any job where a larger shovel won’t do.

Clarington Forge is one of the very few companies left that makes forged garden tools (they’ve been doing it since 1780!) and these are tools that you’ll have for a lifetime. 


Cold Frame 
$139.00 and $149.00

I just ordered a cold frame from Peaceful Valley Farm last week. I used to have one that we made from some old windows, but that was something we threw together quickly and it only lasted a few years. And there was always the issue of lifting the lid to vent it when it got too hot. Sometimes I remembered and sometimes I didn’t. 

I want to grow some spinach in it over the winter, or at least earlier in the spring and later in the fall. We love fresh spinach for salads, along with hard-boiled eggs from our chickens. (Add some raisins, sunflower seeds, shredded cheddar, bacon bits and poppy seed dressing – YUM!) 

Peaceful Valley has a couple of styles of well-made cold frames by Juwel available. To solve the problem I had with venting, I also ordered an automatic vent opener. I thought the prices for both items were very reasonable.


Worm Factory 360
$119.95

Nature's Footprint has the perfect solution for growing your own red wiggler worms. Why would anyone want to do that? Two reasons: it's a great way to get rid of kitchen waste and you can use the worm by-product (that would be their poop) to feed your plants! That's right - more poop for the garden!


I have a Worm Factory 360 in my office and contrary to what you might believe, there is no smell and I have no fruit flies. Those worms are pretty efficient at taking care of whatever I put in their bin. You can read about my first weeks with the Factory here. I've had it for about six months now and it's pretty fascinating to see how these little worms work!

Right now, Nature's Footprint has 10% off sitewide. Just use the code HOLIDAY10 when placing your order. The Worm Factory has Free Shipping, too.


PotterFactory™ Paper Pot Maker Kit
$9.95 plus shipping

You've seen other paper pot makers, I'm sure. But what I like about this one is the cylinder that allows you to fill the pot with potting medium as a next step before removing it. It's a little thing and of course you can add soil to paper pots at any time, but this allows you to pack it in snugly without worrying about the pot falling apart or breaking.

On their website, they also have templates you can print out to make decorative sleeves for your original paper pots, in case you want to give a plant as a gift. The company that makes PotterFactory™ is environmentally conscious and operated in the United States, so you're truly buying American.

For $9.95 plus shipping, you get a 2 ¼” pot and soil block form, a 1¾” pot form and Soil Compression Tool, and a 100% cotton muslin storage bag. Instructions are included, and they have videos on their website to show you how to do it as well.


Leaf Earrings
$44.00 from Aha! Modern Living

I love botanically-inspired jewelry.  That is all.

Okay, that isn't all, and Aha! Modern Living has some other pretty cool jewelry (as well as a LOT of other awesome products for the home and garden). Go shopping!


Habitat Hotel
$59.95 from Gardener's Supply

I love the design of this hotel for solitary bees, butterflies, ladybugs and lacewings - all great pollinators in the garden. Each has a different nesting requirement, which just adds to the coolness of the appearance of the pine and bamboo hotel.  I don't have one of these, but I'd like to!

 

Hopefully, this helps some of you with your holiday gift-buying and if nothing else, maybe you'll have a few things to add to your own list of wants. Happy holidays!

  

Disclosure:  I have received free of charge for review:  H. Potter terrarium, Corona pruners, Haven Brand Compost Tea, PotterFactory™ pot maker, Dramm One-Touch Shower and Stream, Clarington Forge Planting Spear, Worm Factory 360, and a copy of Little House in the Suburbs.  My opinions stated here are my own and my choice of gifts for gardeners was entirely based on my own preferences and experiences. These particular products would not be on this list if I didn't like and/or use them.

This post also contains some affiliate links. (Amazon, H. Potter, and Nature's Footprint)