Santa Baby

If a gardener is on your Christmas list, here are a few ideas that could make you their very favorite “Santa Baby.”

The Produce Gardener:
Seed starting kits, grow lights, & seeds. Plant markers, mulch, and tools such as hoes, rakes, and seeders. A basket of grapefruit, oranges, pineapples, or other non-local selections. Pruners, loppers, baskets, or shears. Gift certificate at local nursery.

The Flower Gardener:
Pots in colors to match their outside décor. Gift certificate at a local nursery, mail order catalog or on-line. Plant markers, garden journals, computer gardening program, trellis, bench, potting soil, mulch, or leather rose gloves.

The Lawn Manicurist or Landscaper:
New mower blades. Power tools. Soil testing kit. Gift certificate at a mower tune-up shop. I qualify this one by saying not everyone likes these: Statues, gazebo, stepping stones, gazing globe, and other decorative items.

The Indoor Gardener:
Window pots filled with herbs. An Amaryllis bulb and pot. A wreath of live greenery. Spring bulbs to force. Live plants: orchid, ivy, violet, Christmas cactus, poinsettia, or a small live Christmas tree. A grow light. Kitchen composter.

The Bird & Nature Watcher:
Bird, bee, or bat houses. Bird or squirrel feeders. Bird seed or suet. Bird books (I particularly like the National Geographic “Field Guide to N. American Birds” and the “National Audubon Society Field Guide’s to birds, mushrooms, reptiles, insects & spiders, butterflies, wildflowers and fossils.) Field glasses and journal.

Appeals to All Gardeners:
A gift that doesn’t require the exchange of money: An IOU or personal gift certificate to help mow, till, pull weeds, lift heavy things, plant or fetch things. This is an excellent gift anytime.
A good digital camera and memory chip. An external drive for storing pictures without taking up your computer’s hard drive.

Solar lights. Lawn furniture. Live cut flowers in a vase. Composter. A heavy duty water hose. Lightweight tool box. Kneeling bench or pad. Heavy duty garden gloves. Hand cream, sunscreen, and sun hat.

There are books on every topic any gardener might find interesting. A subscription to a newsletter or magazine specializing in the gardener’s favorite topic.

Boots (clogs, short or wellies), bib overhauls, shovels, hoes, pruners, heavy-duty scissors, wheelbarrow, and lawn cart.

Weather instruments: Thermometers, wind & pressure gauges, rain gauges, rain barrels or urns, watering can, and hose guides.

If you aren’t sure what your gardener wants or what brand or quality they prefer, a gift certificate is a wise and appreciated choice. Don’t buy a gift certificate if you don’t know the store (either local or on-line) because if they go out of business prior to using, there is usually little recourse. Buy a small Christmas stocking and tuck the gift certificate inside.

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.” Roy L. Smith