A few close friends and I were having coffee the other morning when the conversation drifted off to holiday gift-giving and how difficult it can be to find that exactly “right” gift for the “right” person. We started reminiscing about some of the gifts we have received through the years, usually from our husbands. Some were sweet, some were strange and some were absolutely hilarious
When we got to our best ever gifts, I immediately thought of the load of mulch that my husband had delivered for me for Mother’s Day one year. It was, in my eyes, the most thoughtful thing he could have given me. I didn’t have to make a dozen trips back and forth to the garden center, I didn’t have to lift 50 pound bags out of the back of my car and it was already there whenever I could squeeze a few hours of garden time out of my schedule.
I do realize that not everyone would think that a huge pile of mulch on the driveway is the perfect gift, but those of us who are gardeners see life just a little differently. So, tonight I compiled a list of gifts that I think are perfect for the gardeners in your life. Who knows, maybe my husband will even see it….
- High quality, ergonomically designed garden tools — save those wrists and backs
- Gardener’s tote — carry all the tools at once (think about filling the tote with the tools from #1)
- Three sets of gardening gloves — three different weights and fabrics; all designed for specific uses
- Potting bench with storage bins for soil and amendments
- Garden shed JUST for the gardener — no sharing!
- Rain gauges and attractive outdoor thermometers — include a promise to install
- Wind chimes — gentle sounds to fill the garden
- Set of striking outdoor pots — replace those worn, chipped ones
- Gift certificate to a local garden center — fill all those pots and beds
- Gift certificate to a mail order catalog — often a source for heirloom varieties not seen anywhere else
- Set of garden tags — styles available for every taste
- High quality garden hoses and water breakers with a programmable timer– nothing more annoying than kinked hoses and forgetting to turn the water off!
- Fire pit — consider a fire and water bowl for a striking combination
- Green wall structure — with a gift certificate to purchase the soil and plants
- Set of garden lighting — with professional installation to make it even easier
- Art piece — create a unique focal point
- Fountain/ water feature — to introduce tranquility into your landscape
- Squirrel proof bird feeders — most gardeners love birds too!
- A variety of premium bird seed — different types of seed brings different types of birds
- Gift certificate for professional landscape design — the entire yard or a new feature area
Backyard design by Embassy Landscape Group.
- Specimen tree — either evergreen or deciduous (read our previous blogs for ideas)
- Hardscape project — a new patio or seating area
- Stylish outdoor furniture — decorate that new patio
- Composting bin with a drum that turns — include a counter top bucket for convenience, especially in winter
- Subscription to a favorite gardening magazine — buy several individual copies and let the gardener decide
- Gardening book — either a “how to” or one exploring some of the newest landscaping philosophies
- Annual pass to an arboretum or botanical garden — a truly all- season gift
St. Louis Botanical Garden - Fees for a horticultural class — continuing education courses are often available through local colleges
- Trip of a life time to renowned American gardens — educational and inspirational
- A year of Maintenance by Embassy Landscape Group — lawn maintenance and seasonal color included
