First, let’s talk about gloves. I know, I mention gloves every year.
But that’s because they’re so useful, there are so many different kinds — and don’t you want/need a pair of each? — and unless they’re super heavy duty, they do eventually need replacing. So, it’s hard to go wrong in giving gloves to a gardening friend or family member.
You can choose from:
• Lightweight, latex-dipped gloves. These are inexpensive, lightweight, and come in a variety of colors. Maybe consider orange or pink; they’re easy to spot if left out in the yard or garden. I pick these up at my local nursery. The ones I’ve seen online tend to be more rubbery and less flexible.
• Leather gloves. Durable and protect hands when doing more “robust” tasks such as moving stones or placing pavers. These come in different weights. For me, one pair of gloves has to pass the blackberry vine test; I’ve drawn blood while weeding out thickets where I didn’t know there were blackberries growing.
• Long-sleeved gloves, a.k.a. rose pruning gloves. Protect your arms from brush and brambles. Consider these from Celtic Farm (https://tinyurl.com/murs7t2n)
• Gloves with gripper dots on the palm sides. These make it so much easier to hold onto tools. If you or a gardener you know struggles with arthritis in their hands or who simply doesn’t have as much of a grip as they used to, these can be a big help. Check out the selection from Foxglove. (https://tinyurl.com/yc5h53ss)
On my list this year is a heated birdbath or a heating element to place in an existing bird bath. It’s not the worst chore to dump out a frozen circle of ice from the bird bath every morning, but the patio is filling up with ice rounds! And on really cold days the water is frozen again by midafternoon.
When I mentioned the idea to my husband, he suggested that it would be expensive, “Like running a toaster 24/7.”
So, I did a bit of investigating and discovered that most bird bath heaters are only 50 watts or 60 watts. Toasters are around 1500 watts.
Plus, they are thermostatically controlled and only turn on when the water gets to a certain temperature. Estimates I read are that a heated bird bath will add about $7 a month to the electric bill. The exact amount of course depends on electric rates in your area and how big the bird bath is. I’m eyeing a ground level heated birdbath from duncraft.com.
Just lately, I’ve become delighted by garden-themed Christmas tree ornaments. I went browsing online and found a selection of fun vegetables in bright colors: broccoli, chili peppers, peas, eggplant and artichoke. From West Elm at https://tinyurl.com/5yc468fc.
Finally, consider gifting someone a bit of gardening, past and present, with a membership in the American Horticultural Society.
One of the benefits is free admission to upwards of 400 public gardens and arboreta throughout North America. Another is a subscription to American Gardner magazine.
Published six times a year, the magazine showcases gardeners, gardens and horticultural leaders, along with gardening news and expert advice. I personally find it not just informative but also inspiring.
Side note: Some years ago, I had the opportunity to write several articles for AHS. It’s one of my favorite garden magazines. Individual: $50. Senior: $35. (ahsgardening.org)
Note: I do not receive any benefit from recommending items. I just either like the way they look and sound or have personal experience from having bought them.
Pam Baxter is an avid organic vegetable gardener who lives in Kimberton. Direct e-mail to pamelacbaxter@gmail.com, or send mail to P.O. Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442. Pam’s book, “Listening to Nature’s Voice,” is now available on Amazon. For more information or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: pamelabaxterbooks.com.
Comments are closed.