With Thanksgiving behind us, it's time to start thinking about Holiday gifts for friends and family. Here is my list of holiday gifts for guy and gal gardeners:
Dwarf Citrus Tree
If you've ever visited an orange grove in bloom, I'm sure you will remember the amazing scent produced by citrus trees. Dwarf citrus trees provide the same amazing scent but in a more manageable package and can be planted outdoors in the ground or in pots (indoor or outdoor). In addition to fragrance, these trees provide delicious edible fruit. This is honestly one of the nicest gifts you can give because dwarf citrus are easy to care for and provide so much. Four Winds Growers have a wide variety of citrus including lemons, limes, grapefruit, oranges, kumquats and some exotics such as Yuzu, Etrog, and Buddha's Hand. Check out the selection available for sale on-line at Four Winds Growers. Their web site also has a very handy chart that will help you select the right tree for your favorite gardener with information on max height, bloom and fruiting season, and cold tolerance. $20-$40 depending on tree size.
Jasmine Plant
Having fresh cut flowers on the table can brighten up dark winter days. While cut flowers only last a few days, these Jasmine plants have much greater staying power; Jasmine flowers open over the course of 4 or more weeks. When in full bloom, Jasmine will fill the air with fragrance.
You can buy Jasmine from WhiteFlower Farm for $45-65 depending on the arrangement. Below is a link to their video on how to care for Jasmine. By the way, Whiteflower Farm also sells paper whites, amaryllis and other flowering plants if Jasmine isn't your speed.
Monet Water Lilie Tee
A beautiful printed tee shirt based on a painting by Claude Monet. Monet began painting water lilies in 1899 and they became a dominant subject in his subsequent artwork. This tee can be purchased on-line from the Museum Store at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's machine washable and available in a variety of sizes for $50.
Byzantine Vine Bracelet
Based on a seventh century gold bracelet from Cyprus, this 24K gold overlay reproduction depicts vegetative forms of vines and grapes. Also for sale from the Museum Store for $150.
Barbour Coat
Barbour is an English company with a tradition of making fine clothing that stretches back to 1894. They currently manufacture a full line of apparel including hats, sweaters, shirts and pants, and of course the item they are most famous for.... men's and women's sporting coats. Originally designed for hunting and fishing these coats are also great for gardening because they are warm and water resistant. Traditional barbour coats (what Barbour now calls their Classic Collection) are coated with wax to make them impervious to rain and snow. Over time the wax will wear down and Barbour allows you to send the coat back to them to have it re-waxed for a small fee. Barbour now makes coats that are more modernly styled and use high-tech fabrics like Gortex if you prefer something more contemporary. Barbour owners tend to be very enthusiastic and loyal to the brand because of the company's commitment to quality and service. I've owned a Barbour coat for over 10 years and have never regretted the purchase. You can buy Barbour coats at Barbour Stores, department stores like Nordstroms and Bloomingdales and specialty stores like Orvis and Sierra Trading Post. A Barbour coat will set you back about $400.
The Best BBQ Grill In the World
Really! The Big Green Egg is a ceramic BBQ grill and smoker in one. It's modelled off of a Japanese design called a komado, Japanese wood grill. The ceramic acts like a kiln used to fire clay pots so the big green egg can generate temperatures in excess of 600 degrees Fahrenheit if you want cook steaks super fast. It also is capable of cooking very evenly, so you can make amazing ribs by cooking them for a long period of time at a low temperature (200 degrees Fahrenheit). The Big Green Egg uses wood based charcoal and you can add hickory, alder, cherry, pecan or whatever other wood chips to enhance the flavor. I use my Big Green Egg to smoke bacon and have even smoked a turkey for Thanksgiving. I've owned my grill for close to 10 years and highly recommend this to anyone who love BBQ. To find a local distributor, go to the Big Green Egg web site. However, be prepared to lay out some big coin for these grills - several hundred dollars depending on size, but worth every penny.
Floral Fragrances From Caswell-Massey
One of the oldest apothecary shops in the US, Caswell-Masey has been selling fine personal care items since the 1750's. The company's scents tend to have a very old fashioned character. Their simplicity is rather refreshing.
You can find rose, lily of the valley, gardenia and other floral scents for $30. For Guys, Caswell-Massey sells a variety of colognes such as "Number Six" a citrus based fragrance worn by George Washington.
Mason Bee Box
If you want to ensure good pollination, putting a honey bee hive in your garden is a good idea. But honey bees are expensive to install and require ongoing care. If you want to increase pollination in your garden, with a minimum amount of work, put Mason Bees to work for you. These solitary bees produce no wax and normally make their homes out of mud which they form into tubes. However, you can encourage them to live in your garden by giving them a nice place to live. Wooden mason bee houses are said to be better than plastic. These hand-crafted ones from Etsy cost about $20.
Felco Pruning Shears
Felco is a precision made pruner from Switzerland. The blade is as sharp as a scalpel and the handles are very comfortable. If you should wear through the blades, they are replaceable. This is one of those, "you get what you pay for" items. These are the best shears you'll ever own and the last pair you'll need to buy. About $40 for a basic model at Amazon.com.
Husqvarna Chain Saw
Pronounce "husk-varna," this chain saw is made by a Swedish company that is the worlds largest manufacturer of lawn mowers, chain saws, cultivators and other outdoor equipment. Husqvarna makes both electric and gas powered saws for consumer and pro applications. Consumer models generally run for between $200-$300. If your property is small and your planned use is only occasional, I'd recommend getting an electric model like the 316E. Electric models tie you to an outlet and don't have the power that a gas powered saw does, but the motors are quieter, emission free, and require less frequent service. Husqvarna products can be purchased at Tractor Supply, Sears, hardware stores, Amazon.com and from the manufacturer's website. If you buy a chainsaw, also buy a safety helmet with a screen visor to protect your eyes and a pair of gloves to protect your hands. Read the owners manual and apply common sense when operating the saw because Hasqvarna doesn't sell replacement fingers.
Vilmorin Garden Calendar
Les Plantes Potageres (A catalog of vegetables with magnificent illustrations) was published by Vilmorin's in France in 1850. The book has been reprinted by Taschen and they have also published a calendar containing some of the wonderful illustrations from that book. A nice gift or stocking stuffer and priced well at $12 from Amazon.com.
Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It By Karen Solomon
I've used quite a number of recipes from this book including the basic pickle recipe and the recipe to cure bacon at home. If you are new to home food preservation, this is a good place to begin. You get 75 recipes in the book. It costs $17 at Amazon.com. Ms. Solomon has also published a second book, Can It, Bottle It, Smoke It, with an additional 75 recipes including how to make your own corn flakes, press your own tofu, make bagels and how to cure pastrami. Also $16 from Amazon.com.
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