Dozens of newly selected holiday gift ideas for gardeners
These gardening and lawn gifts will plant seeds of anticipation for greener days to come and spread a little sunshine when it’s needed most.
Smart video camera for bird feeder: This device not only feeds your feathered friends, but also identifies and records them during their visit. Mount it outside, then download the free app on your iPhone (iOS 11 or later) or Android (OS 5.0 or later) device and connect it to your Wi-Fi network. When a bird lands on the solar-charged feeder, AI identifies its species and sends alerts, ultra-high-resolution images and live video with audio and species details to your smartphone. It contains a memory card with a capacity of 8 GB. $219.99 at Sharperimage.com.
Smart hydroponic farms: Our award-winning growing system allows you to grow fresh foods indoors all year round without exposure to sunlight or soil. The 16-plant unit contains 86 LEDs and 10 smart sensors that monitor the plants remotely and communicate with the free aspara mobile app, which sends alerts when care is needed. Includes 2 capsules of edible vegetables, herbs, fruits or flowers; Others are sold separately. $399 at grow-green.com.
New buds grow and glow: Enjoy the soy blend candle through the winter, then recycle the footed ceramic pot into a planter and plant the included seeds in the spring. Choose from Herb Garden (gray pot with basil seeds), Wildflower Fields (dark brown pot with daisy seeds), Desert Oasis (light brown pot with aloe seeds) or Frosted Forest (white with spruce seeds). $40 at Modernsprout.com.
Gentle Floral Diffuser: This cleverly designed oil diffuser looks like a beautiful silk flower in a bud vase, but is actually a fragrance delivery system in disguise. Fill the vase with the included Sweet Grace oil and insert the “stem” of the ivory flower wick, then watch the flower gradually open and turn pink. It will scent your room with a blend of passion fruit, sparkling tea and patchouli for approximately 50 days. $35 at bridgewatercandles.com.
Noble Oak Bourbon: Every time a bell rings, an angel might get his wings, but this bourbon brand goes one step further to please gardeners: Every time a bottle is sold, a tree is planted (in partnership with One Tree Planted, a Vermont-based reforestation nonprofit ). To date, this cooperation has led to the planting of more than one million new farms. The award-winning whiskey, finished with sherry oak notes, will make a great addition to your eggnog. $36.99 for a 750 ml bottle at select retailers nationwide; Find one near you at Nobleoak.com.
STIHL HSA 26 Cordless Shrub Shears: These cordless gardening shears make it easy to trim hedges, tame dense perennials and cut ornamental grasses. Lightweight construction (tool weighs less than 2 pounds), ergonomic design and rubber handles provide comfortable maneuverability, while an easy switch button allows for tool-free changes between the included grass and shrub cutting attachments. An LED indicator informs the battery life, which runs for 80 or 120 minutes on a single charge, depending on the accessory used. $149.99 at stihlusa.com.
Zoom room: This cordless blower is lightweight and easy to operate. It assembles in minutes, achieves a full charge (via USB-C) in half an hour, and cleans driveways, patios, decks, cars, RVs, and other surfaces of leaves and debris quickly and quietly. $189 at Zoombrooms.com.
Back to Organic Mushroom Growing Kit from Roots: If you want to grow mushrooms yourself but can’t get a fungus spawn and substrate, you can grow the crop in a cardboard box right on your kitchen counter. After soaking the base bricks, open the side panel of the box, spray daily with the included spray bottle, and your harvest of organic and non-GMO shiitake, oyster or mushrooms will be ready in as little as 10 days. Each crop produces 3-4 lots, and each box grows two crops. $19.99 to $39.99 at backtotheroots.com.
Reciprocal Membership in Botanic Gardens: Membership in the American Horticultural Society comes with a big perk: free admission and concessions at more than 350 state gardens and nurseries in 48 U.S. states, Canada, the Cayman Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Your gift will also include a subscription to The American Gardener magazine, discounts on gardening tutorials and demos, access to members-only online gardening resources, and more. Dues, which support AHS educational programs, are tax deductible. $35 at https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/rap/.
Fodder Flowers Design Collection: Gardeners, wildflower researchers and wannabe florists will enjoy crafting one-of-a-kind arrangements using this seven-piece design set. Cut flowers and fill using the included convenient scissors, then arrange them decoratively in a 4-inch eco-friendly pot using moss pins, teal binding wire and one of the three included floral foam bricks. $39.99 at Oasis Forage Products.
Soltic Vita Grow Light Necklace Set: Houseplant parents will love this grow light because it doesn’t look like a grow light. But don’t let its elegant vibe fool you: The Vita’s dimmable emits full-spectrum lighting, closely mimicking natural sunlight. Designed to last 5 years, it is available in black or white wire; Bronze, black or nickel pendant; And with lampshade ($160) or without ($105) at soltech.com.
Hartley Botanic Patio Glasshouse: What do you get for the gardener who has everything? If your budget allows, this stylish, space-saving style will delight them all year round and for years to come. At 2 feet 5 inches deep, 4 feet 2 inches wide and 4 feet 6 1/2 inches long, the Patio Glasshouse is ideal for starting seeds, nurturing cuttings, and extending the season. A hinged top and double sliding front doors provide easy access to three levels of plants. The patio is manufactured in Lancashire, England, where Hartley Botanic has been manufacturing greenhouses since 1938, and is available in 15 colours. $4,400 at hartley-botanic.com.
