Holiday gift-giving ideas for the gardener
[ad_1]
Once again, it is time to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones. Gardeners are easy to shop for because there are so many good items out there, and the gardener in your life will be probably be pleased with whatever you choose. As a shopper, I always try to support local, family-owned businesses — they support our community and I want to support them when possible. Let’s take a look at some ideas.
Think about buying tickets for you and your gardening friend to a special garden, or perhaps one of the spring flower shows. This will allow the two of you to have some time together and to get some ideas about what you both can do in your gardens. One of my favorite gardens is Bedrock Gardens in Lee, New Hampshire. This garden was developed by plant guru Jill Nooney and her husband, Bob Munger, over 25 years and recently achieved 501-(c)-3 status as a nonprofit. Not only does it have a fabulous collection of plants, but it also has art displayed in the gardens created by Jill, who is a sculptor and welder. This is truly a gem of a place and worthy of visits. There is a suggested donation of $15. See their website, bedrockgardens.org, for schedules.
Another garden I love is Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, New Hampshire. Augustus Saint-Gaudens was a world-known sculptor who lived and worked there in the early 20th century. The well-maintained formal gardens and grounds are enhanced by his fabulous life-sized (or larger) bronze sculptures. The grounds are open year-round, and the galleries are open from Memorial Day weekend through Oct. 31. Admission is $10 and is valid for seven days.
Of the spring flower shows, the Connecticut show in Hartford is probably the biggest in New England — and well worth a visit. It will run Feb. 22 to 25 in 2024. Although tickets are not yet on sale, you can create a card inviting your gardening buddy to go with you.
Garden tools are generally a hit. On my second birthday I was given a child-sized wheelbarrow, a watering can and a shovel, all of which helped form me as a lifetime gardener. Most garden centers sell good quality tools for kids made of metal, not plastic. See what you can find for a small person in your life.
Adults like tools, too. For 20 years now I’ve had a Smart Cart, a well balanced two-wheel cart. The frame is made of airplane-grade tubular aluminum and the 7-cubic foot body of heavy-duty plastic. It comes either with bike-type wheels or smaller, fatter wheels capable of traversing wet areas more easily and carrying heavier loads. I chose the wide wheels, which make the cart rated for 600 pounds. The narrower wheels are rated for 400 pounds. I’ve never had a flat tire and the cart has served me well. The bin pops out if you want to wash a dog in it, or carry home manure in your Subaru. It is not inexpensive, but worth the investment.
My favorite weeder is the CobraHead weeder, a single-tine, curved hook that teases out roots with ease and precision. It has become an extension…
[ad_2]
Read More: Holiday gift-giving ideas for the gardener