Issue Date: December 3, 2006
Holiday Gardening Gifts
There's something special for every gardener in your life.
SEED COLLECTIONS: Every gardener appreciates receiving seeds, particularly a special collection. I really like those that Seeds of Change offers, such as Heirloom Tomato Seed Collection, Early Salad Seed Collection, Butterfly Garden Seed Collection and Early Bird Garden Collection. From $11 to $19, they are available at seedsofchange.com.
BIRD FEEDERS: Many gardeners are bird lovers and watchers. You can find a great selection of bird feeders and more, including squirrel-proof ($49.95) and hummingbird feeders ($14.95 to $49.95),, at duncraft.com.
BOOKS: Pick up Seedheads in the Garden, by British plantsman Noël Kingsbury (Timber Press, $29.95). The photos alone will make any keen gardener salivate. And check out Piet Oudolf's books. I have every one by the Dutch landscape designer and turn to them often for inspiration.
MEMBERSHIPS: Don't overlook a membership to the local horticultural society or gardening club. Some offer free flower show tickets as part of the membership fee.
TOOLS: I'm a firm believer in investing in quality tools that will last a lifetime. Smithandhawken.com and gardenersedge.com have good ones but, for my money, Fiskars has superior loppers and hedge trimmers. They can be found at some gardencenters, big-box stores or fiskars.com. And if you want to give the "best of the best" pruner to yourgardening pal, my favorite is Felco. Gardentalk.com carries a good selection of them for between $49.95 and $68.95. Felco pruners, $59.95
CONTAINERS: To gather veggies and cut flowers, consider a garden hod, an old-fashioned metal basket with wooden handles and sides. Burpee.com has one for $39.95. Gardentalk.com features marvelous Sussex trugshandmade from sweet chestnut, as they have been since 1850 ($52 and up).
PLANTS AND FLOWERS: What gardener doesn't love receiving lush, exotic plants or flowers as a gift? You can find plenty of them at whiteflowerfarm.com, priced from $14 for an Amaryllis 'Grand Cru' bulb to $196 for aConnoisseur's Collection of eight bulbs in wicker baskets.
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