Great Gifts for Green Thumbs

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"Deck the halls with boughs of holly" is all well and good but between that, baking a gazillion snowman-shaped cookies and making merry at various parties there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of time left for finding the perfect gifts for friends and family. Well for the green thumbs on your list at least I've got you covered – read on!

 

 

For the gardener with a sense of humor

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How about a cow pie (UK = cow pat) in a bag? Moo-Poo tea is just that, albeit from happy cows after things have been made  clean, safe and odorless. I swear this stuff saved our veggie garden this year. Manure tea conditions the soil so plant roots can better absorb nutrients. This enables plants to develop strong root systems, bushier growth and vibrant blooms. And here's a special deal to celebrate Authentic Haven Brand Natural Brew's making the "Top 10" Indie Awards this year;  for each 9 pack order placed by Dec 8, 2013 you will receive a free 3 pack, plus free S/H (no code needed). Order today! Also on Facebook

For the fashion conscious gardener

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I make no apologies for this selection even though I think I probably recommend it every year – West County waterproof gardening gloves. These are THE BEST gloves for winter gardening keeping my hands nice and toasty even if  the gloves get soaking wet (which they frequently do). In fact I bought my Mum a pair just to wear for shopping because they are so warm and I have been known to use mine for driving! Although these won't work for delicate gardening tasks such as sowing seed they are perfect for the typical winter work of pruning, digging and weeding. I can't recommend them highly enough.

For the interior designer – cum – gardener

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I cannot keep a houseplant alive. I don't know what it is but I am seriously houseplant challenged. For those of you who do manage to nurture indoor plants for more than a week I have the perfect book for you. Indoor Plant Decor: The Design Stylebook for Houseplants by Kylee Baumle and Jenny Peterson will give you oodles of ideas for decorating your home in stylish new ways. It also promises that it makes "houseplants easy"…… I may be their ultimate challenge. Order here. Also on Facebook

For the florist in your life

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I absolutely LOVE these floral snips by Corona. I was given two pairs to give away at a seminar I was presenting. And I did. Now I don't have any! Santa are you listening??? These have super comfy gel handles, an integral thorn stripper and floral wire cutter and are lightweight making them easy to use for an extended period of time. They are also great value at less than $12. Order here.

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Now anyone who loves flower design will be inspired by Debra Prinzing's book Slow Flowers. This time I had more sense; I bought one for a gift AND one for myself! Debra's book encourages us to use locally sourced flowers which are in season. If you dont believe there is anything available in the middle of winter, think again! Debra offers instructions for an artistic creation for every week of the year. In fact Slow Flowers challenged me to look in my own garden and see for myself the winter jasmine, hellebores and camellias, colorful stems and catkin adorned branches which were all there in December together with plenty of evergreens. You can get more inspiration from Debra's blog where you can listen to podcasts and get even more scrumptious design ideas. Order Slow Flowers here

 

 

For the artistic gardener

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Hand blown glass ornaments are not all created equal. Those made by Barbara Sanderson at Glass Gardens NW are high quality that will have you exclaiming that they are even better in person than online! Imagine these on your tree or hanging in a window? Lots of other beautiful pieces in her online store too. Also on Facebook

For all gardeners!

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You can't go wrong with this garden tool gift set. The English hand fork is my #1 tool. I use it to tease roots from root bound plants, to carefully remove plants from mixed containers without damaging roots and for weeding when I want to avoid cutting the root but rather pry the weed up intact. The matching trowel is the perfect partner. Gardeners of all ages and experience will thank you for this set.

 

More ideas?

Better Homes and Gardens has just published Great Budget Friendly Gifts for Gardeners (and they have included FINE FOLIAGE, written by Christina Salwitz and myself !)

Dear Santa; our Foliage Wish List – ideas for foliage-aholics everywhere

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4 Comments

  1. Kylee from Our Little Acre on December 5, 2013 at 5:49 pm

    How nice of you to include "Indoor Plant Decor!" Thank you, Karen. Happy holidays and I hope Santa brings you all that you wish for!



    • Karen Chapman on December 5, 2013 at 6:21 pm

      My pleasure – it's a great book. (Hope Santa reads my blog)



  2. Jenny Peterson on December 5, 2013 at 5:51 pm

    Thanks for including our book in your list, Karen! And the one I want is Barbara's glass ornaments for the garden — her work is just stunning and I've been drooling over it for years now. Merry Christmas!



    • Karen Chapman on December 5, 2013 at 6:21 pm

      I want one too – or three!