Gifts That Brighten Dark Months for Gardeners : Hobbies: Bulbs, trowels . . . manure. Horticulture lovers appreciate anything that contributes to their addiction.
The nice thing about buying gifts for gardeners is that they are unlikely to be grumpy about something that might not be quite right--even a cheap trowel has its uses.
Nor will they mind if they get something they already have one or several of. Extra pruning shears are to be treasured, as are more bulbs than you’d planned on. One more thermometer is eminently useful, as is an additional rain gauge, which could go near the house to save a trip to the garden to see how much it rained. More whimsical gifts would also be enjoyed. Jewelry, T-shirts, ties, towels and other articles that declare the gardener’s affinity to the hobby make great gifts.
And then there is a myriad of ideas that only a gardener would thrill to--bags of homemade compost or a load of chipped wood for mulch are two examples that leap to mind. Indeed, gifts that fit into this category actually might be the most appreciated of all, and they cost very little.
One of my favorites is a good solid bucket containing a few small bags of manure or compost and a recipe for manure tea. I like the plastic utility buckets with lids that may have contained cement or paint and will hold better than five gallons of water.
Into this, pack a bag of excellent compost or composted manure, which you can usually get from a horse owner or nearby stable. The largest-size plastic freezer bags do well for this purpose since they are durable. However, since they only go to about one gallon in size, it would be good to drop in two or three of these filled with the compost or manure. Then on a 3-by-5 card write instructions for making manure tea:
* To each gallon of water, add one trowelful of compost or manure; allow it to steep for a few hours or overnight. Apply at the rate of 1/2 gallon per large plant, one quart for smaller plants, every couple of weeks.
Get the card laminated or press it between two sheets of clear Contact paper. Place it in the bucket, replace the lid and tie a bow on the bucket handle. It makes a most welcome--and economical--gift.
A few tried-and-true gift ideas include the ones already mentioned--rain gauge, thermometer, pruning shears and bulbs. The best rain gauge I have seen is widely available in retail stores. It is about 18 inches tall and nearly as fat around as a mailing tube in clear, high-quality plastic with bold yellow numbers on it. It is very easy to read and practically indestructible. It retails for about $11.
A good outdoor thermometer should give high and low readings, be very easy to read and cost under $30.
A pair of small pruning shears is a great investment. The style is less important than the quality, which is measured by the price. Expect to pay $35 or more to get the quality.
Most gardeners love forced bulbs, whose early blooms brighten the bleak, non-gardening months. Look for narcissus at a cost ranging from 65 cents to $1.50 per bulb, depending on the quality and variety, or amaryllis, which cost from $5 to $15 per bulb, depending on variety. Along with the narcissus bulbs, pack a bowl with small white stones or a specially designed bulb vase, all of which are available at garden centers. The total cost will range from $10 to $20. Amaryllis is planted in a large pot of potting soil for a total cost of $15 to $25.
Good plant labels designed to stay in the garden year-round to identify perennials--plants that come back year after year--are a wonderful gift. There’s a great variety of styles and materials to choose from. Among the most practical and economical are tall, sturdy metal and zinc ones that come in bundles of 25 for about $10. Pack the labels with a special marking pen, either a laundry marker from a stationery store or a special pen that comes with the labels. Garden labels are available at garden centers and through catalogues.
How to keep track of stored seeds from year to year is a problem for gardeners. A seed-saver storage system is offered through the Gardener’s Supply catalogue (128 Intervale Road, Burlington, Vt. 05401). It consists of a black waterproof box, about a foot square, with a hanging-file system that contains 15 resealable plastic pouches and multicolored labels to categorize seeds. The cost is $35 plus shipping.
If whimsical is more the style you’re looking for, jewelry with a garden theme is very popular. The Smith & Hawken catalogue (2 Arbor Lane, Box 6900, Florence, Ky. 41022) has tie tacks, earrings and a variety of pins, ranging in price from $16 to $49. My favorites are the miniature tools--perfect replicas of a garden fork, complete with wooden shaft; a tiny broom of straw and wood, and a miniature hedge clipper. The fork and broom pins cost $28 and $18 respectively, and the hedge clipper tie tack costs $20. Gardener’s Supply offers a pewter trowel pin for $20 and a trowel key chain for $15.
