Christmas Gifts for Your Favorite Gardener

While it may be winter and the ground covered with snow in some parts, be assured a dedicated gardener is already planning his crop and laying out his garden. Now's the time to think about what he's going to need to not only make the work easier, but enjoy the gardening experience more, allowing more time to enjoy the fruits of his labor. So, if you're heading out to scout for a gift for your favorite gardener, check out the list below for a few practical and just for fun ideas that will bring a smile and hopefully, a bouquet of joy!

GIFTS THAT ARE FUN...

Gardens books: With the snow on the ground, it's rather difficult to work in the flower beds. Gardeners love to sift through garden catalogs, coffee table flower books and read up on their favorite species. You can never go wrong with Sunset's Western Garden Books. For a book with beautiful floral photographs throughout that will encapture anyone's attention for hours (trust me on this!), check out "Flowers" by H. Wako, considered to be a feast for any gardener's eyes.

Floral Calendar: Smith and Hawken (a great gardening resource for great stuff!) has put out a beautiful calendar for 2008. You can get it on Amazon with one day shipping. They also offer the Audubon Wildflowers Calendar 2008 by National Audubon Society, both starting at around $9.

Bird Bath/Feeder/House: Most gardeners enjoy sharing their space with the critters who live nearby. Help welcome them with ornaments for the yard. Feeders come in simple to extravagant and prices follow and the same applies for all yard ornaments. A good companion for any bird accessory would be Stokes Bird Gardening.

Living Gift Basket: Giving a potted plant is great but a true gardener is a do-it-yourselfer. Why not give a do-it-yourself gift basket? A metal-lined potting basket with a bag of soil and an assortment of seeds would be a sure pleaser. Some seed suggestions: lobelia, snapdragons, pansies, petunias, and verbena. $30

Watering Can: Every gardener loves a watering can, especially a nice one. Any of your local stores will carry some great selections starting at $15.