Growing Green

By Robin Trott, Extension Educator

Do you have a gardening enthusiast on your holiday gift list?  There is still time to shop for that special gift for the garden! Many local businesses carry items that would appeal to your gardening friends and relatives, including hand tools, garden gadgets, houseplants, bird feeders, books and natural soaps and lotions. Therefore, in honor of your gardening loved ones, here is a list of suggestions for those of you still pondering that age-old question, “what in the world am I going to give for the holidays?”

• Gloves – No gardener ever has enough garden gloves. Find a nice pair of soft, leather gloves, sturdy gloves for tough jobs and light weight gloves when finesse is important. If your gardener grows roses, look for a pair of long rose gloves to keep the thorns from drawing blood.

• Hand Tools – Good quality hand tools that clean easily and sharpen well are always welcome. Look for ergonomically designed tools for the gardener who has arthritis or tendonitis. Don’t forget to include a tool sharpener with your gift.

• Raised Bed Kit – Many catalogs carry easy to set up raised bed gardens.  These are ideal for the gardener who doesn’t have ideal soil or space, or who has trouble getting down to ground level.  Many of these are suitable for the wheelchair bound.

• Books – There are many gardening books from which to choose. Check out the new and used local bookstores and select from a variety of topics including garden design, northern gardening, herb gardening, organic gardening, vegetable gardening, perennial gardening, and flower gardening…the possibilities are endless.

• Gardening Magazine Subscriptions – One click of the mouse can get your loved one a subscription to a magazine full of wonderful gardening suggestions to fill the cold winter months. Check out The Northern Gardener from the Minnesota State Historical Society at https://northerngardener.org/magazine/.

• Bird Feeders – There are so many decorative styles of feeders to attract any bird that might fly through your winter garden. Pair this with a bird identification book and binoculars to thrill the avid birder on your list.

• An Herb Garden Kit is a fun and delicious garden gift.  Just plant according to directions, and soon your kitchen will be full of fresh herbs.

• Good quality watering wands and hoses – Gardeners spend a lot of time watering, give them the tools that will make their job easier.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays! Hope they are full of joy and loved ones!

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Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. ~Oren Arnold