Christmas Gifts for the Gardener

  • Post published:12/15/2018
  • Post comments:8 Comments
Christmas cyclamen at Greenfield Farmers Coop

Christmas gifts for  the gardener range over such a large world of possibilities. Even though we’ve shopped at Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, we may not have finished our holiday shopping. Fortunately there are many places where we can buy everything a gardener, novice or expert, might need in our own neighborhood.

Infiniflo hose and versatile sprinkler
Infiniflo hose and versatile sprinkler

I began shopping at the Greenfield Farmers Cooperative on High Street. I didn’t even have to go inside to see wonderful greenery waiting to be hung on welcoming doors. Swags and wreaths made of a variety of greens with berries and ribbons range in price from $7 on up. Inside the building are tools, gloves, boots and fertilizers. I looked at hoses and saw there seems to be revolutionary new hose designs. The soaker hoses are made of sturdier materials than the ones I used years ago, hoses that deteriorated in a year or two. A couple of years ago I saw that Dramm made sprinklers that could be set up to cover a half circle, or a long rectangle or about any other configuration your garden might need. Now other companies like Infiniflo are also making these versatile hose/sprinklers. Costs range from about $20 to $60.

The Coop is a veritable emporium of everything a gardener might need from brightly colored little ceramic vases on a single base that allows for an impromptu bouquet, elegant white pots for houseplants, or, if you wish, brilliantly colored pots in shades of orange, green, and blue. Pots range in price from $7 to $20. And of course, there is a full range of houseplants that make wonderful holiday gifts as well as amaryllis sets for $10. And there is more to see.

The Outlet on Chapman Street for Garden Togs

I made a stop at The Outlet, a men’s shop on Chapman Street. Skip White welcomed me but reminded me it wasn’t gardening season. Even so, he showed me pale beige Carhart pants that some gardeners, as well as others, have been buying because it is easier to find ticks on the pale fabric. He also showed me classic blue chambray shirts, to save you from sunburn when you are in the garden all day as well as Dri-release T-shirts that provide the wicking that many of us welcome. White even showed me a few hats he brought up from the basement ranging from a big classic straw hat, to a hat with a flap to protect necks from sunburn, and a light weight floppy hat that would be comfortable and protective.  All these items range in price from $20-$40. And there is more to see.

Hilltown Growers Supply – Hydroponics and more

Dutch Bucket System - Hydroponic
Dutch Bucket System – Hydroponic

Then I started up Route 2 and stopped at the Hilltown Growers Supply at the top of Greenfield Mountain. In the spring I met Wilder Sparks when I bought a new plant light set up so I could start lots of zinnias. Wilder has equipment and supplies including fertilizers that go well beyond the necessaries for growing cannabis. On this trip I was amazed by the Dutch Bucket System he had set up. This is a hydroponic system that Wilder is experimenting with and his chosen crop is peppers. And there is more to see.

The Shelburne Farm and Garden Shop

The Shelburne Farm and Garden shop also has lots of wreaths and swags, plain and fancy with different greens and berries. They also had practical plant stands of different heights including a stand with arms for four small plants. Prices range from $25-$60. Most of the lightweight garden gloves were put away but the pale MUD suede gauntlets ($29) would be a wonderful gift for the gardener who has prickery plants like roses! The Shelburne Farm and Garden is famous for its love of birds, and its supply of bird seed, and some unusual bird feeders. Nicole Crossman showed me some plexiglass bird feeders with suction cups that allow you to attach the feeder to your window so that you can get a close-up view of the birds, making it very easy to identify them. And there is more to see.

Christmas wreath at Shelburne Farm and Garden

OESCO for Garden Tools, and Books

Then I was off to OESCO in Conway. They have just about every garden tool you will ever have to use. I’ve always found it difficult to buy garden tools as a gift for a friend because I never know for sure what they already own. I was talking to Jemma Vanderheld and asked if there was there was any tool that people had to replace often.  She thought long and hard. She said “A lot of people have to replace their pruners because they lose them.” That statement hit home and I have a pruner with ragged grips after it spent the winter in the grass and then got chopped by the lawn mower in the spring.

Tool Sharpeners at OESCO
Tool sharpeners at OESCO

Then I asked if there was any tool that people tended not to buy even though it was useful. She didn’t hesitate this time. “Sharpeners.  People bring their tools for sharpening to us because they think they are not capable of sharpening. But all our sharpeners list a website where you can get a sharpening lesson. And they can watch it as many times as they want.” The sharpeners with different sizes and grits range in price from $8 to $50.

Vanderheld also mentioned that gardeners can have the springs and ‘bumpers’ on pruners replaced.

OESCO now carries a large range of garden books, for children and on special topics like vineyards, mushrooms, hops – and cookbooks.

Surely you don’t believe I came home empty handed from my explorations. I bought a beautiful cast iron apple corer/peeler. I am happy.

Between the Rows December 8,

 

This Post Has 8 Comments

  1. Sharon Himsl

    Good list of ideas. I have not visited for a long, long time, but wanted to say how fabulous your blog has become. My blog is rather eclectic in focus (my writing journey mainly) but gardening is a second passion. I have sort of a farm girl approach to life. I occasionally share my gardening attempts and also write gardening articles for a local newspaper during the summer. Living in a desert climate during the summer that turns cold over the winter has its challenges. I’m from the Northwest and live in Central Washington state where the soil is sandy and sage brush and tumbleweed grow wild. But with water… well, things grow. We are also apple orchard and grape country. Chrysanthemums especially do well in spring through late fall, and there is more. I keep learning.

  2. Jean

    Pat, Wow! That’s quite a set of shops you have to browse for garden gifts! I got my first cyclamen many years ago as a gift, and I have been growing them as houseplants ever since. What a wonderful gift of bright, cheerful color they provide at this time of year.

  3. Great ideas! My Cyclamen is just coming on now, and I expect flowers later in the winter. I just have one, and I’ve managed to keep it alive for many years now. The tools and other gift suggestions are wonderful!

  4. Pat

    Beth – At this point I want a plant with flowers. My Christmas cacti have gone on strike this year. NO blossoms at all.

  5. Pat

    Jean – I did have a good time visiting all the shops. Skip at the Outlet was so surprised to see me in his shop looking for gardening gifts – but he did get into the spirit of the season.

  6. Pat

    Sharon – Thanks so much for visiting – and the kind words. One of the Garden Bloggers Flings was in Seattle and before we left we attended a local Farmers Market. It was cherry season and I bought as many cherries, different types, as I thought I could eat before leaving. I had a nice talk with the cherry farmer. He kind of grunted and said I better not think these cherries were local! They came from over the mountain where there is rain. The thing about gardeners – we are all always learning.

  7. Lisa at Greenbow

    A fun shop. I would love one of those sharpeners. I wonder if it is too late for Santa to bring one?? Happy shopping.

  8. Pat

    Lisa – I bought one of their sharpeners years ago, and the video is extremely helpful. You can sharpen kitchen knives, too.

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