Posts from — December 2010

Just one good snow or ice storm or really cold day can get people grumbling about winter. Sure, we had a lovely Michigan fall. In every conversation about the weather, everyone — family, friends, neighbors and shop holders– agreed that this autumn was one of the longest, mildest and prettiest in recent memory. True winter arrived this week, however, bringing a dump of snow, icy roads, and school closures– and accompanying complaints.

Winter transforms the garden too. Snow and ice bring out textures and shadows we don’t normally see. Wintertime gives gardens and gardeners a much needed rest period, although we can keep pretty busy with planning and dreaming.

Winter also provides plants with vernalization, which is a requirement for some species. Vernalization is a physiological process in some plants where the flowers, or sometimes the seeds, must go through a prolonged period of cold in order to blossom or germinate in the spring. The amount of cold required by a plant is measured in chill hours. (If I read this chart correctly, we get about 1400 chill hours annually in our area– brr!) In terms of species of fruit trees, apples have the highest chill requirements, followed by apricots and peaches. Nuts trees and berry bushes also have varying chilling requirements.

So what’s a little cold then, if it means we get to grow apples and peaches and berries. I’ll put on a sweater and settle in with my seed catalogs and garden plans and think about spring.

What if a gardener already has a compost bin? Here are a few more ideas for gifts that gardeners will appreciate. They range from practical to ornamental, reasonable to a little pricey. If you have a good idea of the gardener’s needs, wants, and tastes, gift selection is always easier. Feeling overwhelmed or puzzled? Gift certificates are the answer.

Remember that gift-giving success is not guaranteed so it’s always a good idea to investigate a store’s return policy. That’s one advantage to shopping locally; you can inquire about returns and refunds before you check out. So although online shopping may provide a lower cost, returning a gift purchased online can add extra hassle for everyone involved.

Garden Dress Ups
• Bird feeders. We like our Droll Yankee feeder, which is easy to clean and has proven durable over many seasons. The birds like it too. Add a bag of birdseed for the whole package.
• Thermometers and rain gauges. For those who like keeping statistics.
• Whiskey barrel planter. We love these but they can sometimes be hard to find.
• Huge ceramic pots.
• Bird house.
• Bat box. Encourages natural insect control. A single bat can eat 500 to 1000 mosquitoes in one night.
• Mason bee house. Mason bees are excellent pollinators who make their nests in holes. They don’t produce honey, but they also do not sting unless squeezed or stepped on.

Tools & the Like
• Pruning saw.
• Tool totes. Bags or belts are handy.
• Nice gloves. If you know the size needed, gloves can be a great gift. (I lost one of my favorites last summer. Leather. Medium. Hint.)
• Clogs or boots.
• Tool sharpener.

Gardens in Print
• Magazine subscription. From Fine Gardening to Organic Gardening, there’s something for every gardening style.
• Garden books. You can never have too many books, right?

What are the gardening gifts you’ve ever received? What would give you joy to receive this year?

For some people, the expectation of gift-giving or gift-receiving is something expensive, or fancy, indulgent. In our family, we like best to give gifts that are perfect for the receiver. What makes a “perfect” gift? We generally agree that it has to do with giving a person something that she may not even be aware that she needs or wants, something that’s just right for a particular person. Granted, one has to know the intended gift recipient really well and sometimes do some research to find a gift that fits in that category, but we think that’s worthwhile effort.

If you are in or near to celebrating a gift-giving holiday or thinking ahead for other holidays or birthdays, here are some suggestions to consider for the gardeners on your list.

Green gifts
Most gardeners will especially appreciate an ecologically minded gift that helps with garden growth and maintenance. For a beginning gardener, a compost bin or a compost tumbler can be very useful, but even those who’ve gardened for a long time could have need of another bin. Compost bins are available from the Washtenaw County Conservation District now and also from local stores and online. Downtown Home and Garden carries a nice range of designs of bins and tumblers.

A kitchen compost bucket for holding scraps on their way to the compost bin outside can also be a handy gift. Our favorite is a stainless steel bucket with handle and a lid, but again many different styles are available.

Another practical gift for gardeners is a rain barrel, which can be purchased from the Washtenaw County Conservation District or local garden stores. Offering to install or help with installation can also be part of the gift.

Want to give a gift that will really surprise? The promise of a load of compost or manure come spring could be just what a gardener needs. Make a certificate to let the gardener know that a load of gardening food will arrive at the earliest convenient date.

Gift Certificates
If you’re stuck, the “get out of jail free” card is the gift card or gift certificate. Shoppers who are baffled can purchase a gift card from just about every store– so pick your gardener’s favorite place to browse and shore. A gift card to a garden center or a local nursery will allow the gardener in mind to make those difficult purchasing decisions for himself.

If a giver is feeling particularly generous, however, he might make a gift certificate that includes, as least in part, a gift of his own time and energy. If offered, many gardeners would welcome some assistance in their garden, with spring clean up, moving soil or compost, planting, weeding, or harvesting. We love our gardens– why else would we put this much effort into them? — but still would love the company and labor of a helper. Another idea is to give a gardener “Vacation Coverage”; a decade back, I enjoyed our three-week excursion to the west even more knowing that a friend was monitoring the rainfall, discouraging the weeds, and picking the ripening vegetables and berries in our absence.

In all, finding the perfect gift for a gardener — or anyone, for that matter– requires paying attention to that person. Asking pointed questions around the holidays can give away one’s intentions, but there’s no need to wait until the holidays to “research” a recipient’s needs or wants. A gift that shows interest and care, originality and insight is always in season.