Gifts for the Gardener

Whether stuffing a stocking, finding the perfect hostess gift, or presenting a significant present that will bring lasting pleasure, there’s something to satisfy any gardener on your Christmas list. Here are a few suggestions.

The King of Spades

            They don’t come cheap, but any garden tool made by W.W. Manufacturing Company is worth the money. The company’s line of shovels and spades, aptly named King of Spades, are their core products, although over the years the family-run business has expanded to offer rakes, heavy-duty garden carts and other necessary tools for garden maintenance.

            The spades and shovels are constructed of aircraft-quality steel with welded blades and handles to add to their strength and durability. They are incredibly strong, rust resistant, and well weighted, and the self-sharpening blades will cut through hard, compacted or heavy clay soil with ease.

            Other tools in the company’s line also get rave reviews from customers, including the Lesche Digging Tool & Sod Cutter. Built with the same quality materials as the spades, this tool is sturdy enough to stand up to the toughest soils. It’s great for both gardeners and metal detector hobbyists. The serrated edge makes cutting through sod a breeze, and the narrow blade and sharp point are excellent for digging in hard, rocky soil and weeding around plants without disturbing nearby roots. It comes with a sheath that can slide on your belt, making it readily accessible when it’s needed. Owners who initially balk at the $42.95 retail price said they have not regretted their purchase.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

            Loved ones on your gift list will enjoy the original plant stakes made by David Howell & Company. Beautifully constructed, the brass plaques have a verdigris finish and are mounted on a steel stake.

            For those growing herbs, opt for the labels that have the herb name cut in silhouette across the top with a pertinent quote from a work of literature etched into the brass plate. For example, the basil stake bears a quote from the Arabian Nights, “Twas as if she were the slender stalk of sweet basil.” 

            More generic are the charming stakes featuring St. Fiacre, the patron saint of gardens, a gardening angel or a garden fairy. At $11 each, these stakes are the perfect stocking stuffer or hostess gift. They can be ordered online through the manufacturer at davidhowell.com.

Chic Sun Protection

            Beat the risk of UV skin damage while looking chic in the lightweight woven hats made by Sunday Afternoons. The latest model, called Palm Springs, features a wide brim that bounces back into shape even when crushed in a suitcase, and a leather chin strap that keeps the hat securely on your head in brisk breezes. It is made of a blend of lightweight paper and nylon braid. As a result, it is cool and comfortable to wear all day, although you don’t want to get caught in the rain wearing it. 

            As important as comfort is the fact that the hat is rated 50 for ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). Choose from five attractive colors: terra-cotta, cactus, adobe, sandstone and onyx. While no local stores near Smith Mountain Lake carry these stylish hats, they can be purchased online at sundayafternoons.com or by calling 888.874.2642. The Palm Springs model retails for $29.

The Gift of Garden Books

The Brother Gardeners: Botany, Empire & The Birth of an Obsession, Andrea Wulf. Alfred A Knopf, New York, New York, 2008. 354 pp. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $35

            The Brother Gardeners is a compelling read, chronicling the colorful men who made their mark on the horticultural world in the 18th and 19th centuries. Readers will meet John Bartram, the unsophisticated American who, in collaboration with his English friend Peter Collinson (whom he never met), changed the landscape of Britain with the North American plants he sent to that country.

            The clash of personalities, egos and sensibilities is riveting as Wulf describes the English resistance to Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus’ system of classifying plants because it was based on a sexual system of ordering — and perhaps more importantly because Linnaeus was self-promoting and arrogant. Linnaeus was a genius, and ultimately he transformed plant classification and nomenclature, but he irritated people, and that caused them to resist his innovative ideas.

            Readers are also introduced to Daniel Solander, Linnaeus’ protégé, who deserted his mentor in favor of his newfound British colleagues who were enchanted with his engaging personality as well as his botanical skills and knowledge.
The people involved in the early years of horticultural exploration, classification and plant trading are fascinating, and the stories and interrelationships of the key men are beautifully told in this book.   

Hardy Succulents, Gwen Moore Kelaidis, photographs by Saxon Hold. Storey Publishing, North Adams, Massachusetts, 2008. 159 pp. Publisher’s price, paperback: $19.95

            Succulents and cacti are not just for the desert. A surprising number of these plants are hardy here at Smith Mountain Lake. They are a great asset in the garden, adding a huge palette of pattern, form and texture. They are drought tolerant, low maintenance and, in many cases, deer resistant, adding to their desirability. Hardy Succulents is a valuable reference to this large plant family with inspiring photographs illustrating dazzling plant combinations and designs as well as plenty of the nuts-and-bolts information you need to grow them successfully.

Encyclopedia of Garden Ferns, Sue Olsen. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2007. 444 pp.  Publisher’s price, hardcover: $59.95

            You’ve got to love ferns, if for no other reason than they are deer resistant. They are attractive and easy to care for, and come in a wide variety of sizes, textures and shades of green.  Whether native or imported, hardy ferns are valuable additions to our Smith Mountain Lake gardens. This comprehensive volume is a superb reference on the subject. A noted expert in the field of ferns, the author highlights nearly 1,000 different genus and species with detailed descriptions and culture guidelines. Hundreds of photographs of different ferns aid in identification.