The good news is that gardeners are easy to shop for. The hard part is trying to decide how to narrow down the options. To help, I have put together a list of ideas that should please even the gardener who seemingly has everything.
1. Garden clothing and accessories. Anyone who has worked outside knows that a sturdy, wide-brimmed hat is a necessity. If you can covertly find out their head size, a well-made Aussie/Outback style or straw hat makes a great gift. A nice set of leather gardening gloves makes a good stocking stuffer or they can both be combined with a plant-themed T-shirt (Zilker Clubhouse has some really neat ones) for a complete Christmas package.
2. Pottery. Many fancier options are available including glazed pots in almost any color and shape, molded terra cotta, and my favorite – Talavera. This pottery from Mexico is bright and colorful and because they’re hand-painted, each piece has its own personality.
3. A new set of hand tools. This is a perfect gift for the practical gardener. Years ago my aunt gave me a hand trowel for Christmas and I liked it so much that I went out and bought several more. Pruners, trowels and hand-held picks (a great garden tool) are all good options.
4. Gifts to help attract wildlife to the yard. These are for gardeners who want to attract pollinators or birds and butterflies. For the bird-watchers on your list, consider a birdbath, or a bird or hummingbird feeder . . . or a bat or owl house.
5. A rain gauge. They now offer products that are large enough to see from a distance (like a dry house). And for the times when it doesn’t rain, every gardener will appreciate a sturdy watering can to get the job done.
6. A farm-to-table book. This is perfect for the person on your list who is a vegetable gardener and a cook. You can’t go wrong with some old favorites including Sam Cotner’s The Vegetable Book (texasgardener.com), Hill, Barclay and Hardy’s Southern Herb Growing (Shearer) and anything by Howard Garret, aka the Dirt Doctor, or Malcom Beck.
7. A goodie basket (or colorful water bucket) full of skin care products for the home gardener. Lotions including Working Hands (love it, love it!!), scrubbing soaps, sunscreen, natural lip balm (I like Bert’s Bees), nail cleaners/trimmers and a pumice stone should all be included.
8. A spring or late winter vegetable seed collection full of heirloom and open-pollinated varieties. Buy locally to ensure that the seeds will grow well in central Texas. Some options: carrots, greens and radishes for winter and chard, okra and squash for summer. For those new to gardening, include a small bag of organic fertilizer, seed starting kit, labels and a seed sower.
9. Bulbs. They are super-easy to wrap up, they store well and will provide years of enjoyment. Paperwhite, amaryllis, Dutch and bearded iris, muscari and daffodils all grow well here and are easy to find in December.
10. A decorative basket filled with a mix of herbs and vegetables that they can plant out in the garden immediately. Thyme, rosemary, sage, cilantro, greens, bunching onions and kale can all be planted at this time of year. Throw in some violas for a punch of edible color and you’ll have a beautiful gift for the gardener with room to plant. Good luck!
If you have a question, send it to me via email: iathyme@yahoo.com. (Please put ‘Ask Chris Winslow’ in the subject line.) Or mail your letter or postcard to: Ask Chris Winslow. It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748 www.itsaboutthyme.com.
