All opinions are my own. I was not compensated to promote any of the following products.
So you have a gardener on your shopping list and no clue what to get them. I have some ideas. All have been tested in my garden for at least a few seasons. You’ll see from the pictures that some have a few dings and scratches. I’m not gentle with my stuff. Things have to be tough to make the cut. And all eight of my suggestions certainly do. Steer clear of the butterfly houses (they don’t work) and invest in things that show you did your homework.
What girl couldn’t use another pair of shoes? I discovered the Muckster 2 from the Muck Boot Company at the Independent Garden Center show in August. The purple caught my eye. But I was most intrigued by the boot’s lining. I’ve owned several garden boots and none kept my feet warm. I’ve worn the Muckster to cold, wet football games this fall and for every garden chore since I received them in September. My feet were comfortable, toasty and I had excellent traction. They’re lightweight, available in several color combos and fit true to size. Whole sizes only. $110
Dramm’s One Touch Shower and Stream should get an Ease of Use designation from the Arthritis Foundation. I struggle with my left hand and after a long day of digging, compressing a nozzle to water the garden can be tough. A simple touch of the thumb gives you total flow control. No squeezing necessary. It’s available in six fun colors. Dramm is a supporter of the Free to Smile Foundation which helps children with cleft lip and/or palate receive care and treatment. My brother was born with a cleft lip and palate so I’m a Dramm fan for life! $16
The Corona FlexDIAL bypass pruner is brilliant. An 8-position dial allows you to adjust the pruner to fit your hand. My daughters, who have smaller hands than me, found this much easier to use. The grip is comfortable and the 3/4 inch blade cuts like a hot knife through butta. $36
Bloem Easy Pour 1.6 gallon watering can was just the right fit for my hand and didn’t force me to bend my wrists in uncomfortable ways. An off-set filling hole made it fit easily beneath my rain barrel spigot and the watering head adjusts for showering or pouring. A newer model, the 2.6 gallon, features an extra handle that makes pouring even easier. $16
My husband gave me the Stumpdust Garden Dibber and Row Markers last Christmas. I love that they’re handmade from recycled materials by a woodworker in Washington state. I’ve used the dibber for seed sowing and bulb planting. And the row markers help me line things up in the veggie garden. They’re simple, comfortable in hand and so beautiful. The set arrives ready to be gifted in this little crate. $45
The glass hummingbird feeder from Wild Birds Unlimited is a great way to get up close and personal with your petite feathered friends. The feeder can be hung from a small shepherd hook and placed in a container arrangement on the patio, balcony or garden. Great idea for a small space hummingbird lover. Feeder, $25. Shepherd hook, $10.
Every gardener needs a good how-to written by someone who knows what they’re doing. The Well-Tended Perennial Garden by Tracy DiSabato-Aust is that book. I recommend it to every gardener I know. I’ve had this version for many years and it’s since undergone several new editions. It’s an excellent resource for learning how to extend the bloom time of the perennial garden. $35
With our native bee population in serious decline, a mason bee house is a great addition to the garden. Mason bees are gentle, solitary and incredible pollinators. I received this Bambeco Swiss Alps Bee House for Mother’s Day and hung it on the east side of my home where it would receive morning sun. It’s such a simple thing to do with wonderful benefits to the garden and the environment. $29
Will you be giving yourself or a loved one something for the garden this Christmas?
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