Gardens: Give and let give

Louisa Pearson

But before you plunge headfirst into a purchase of pink polka dot wellies or a banana plant, it’s worth remembering that gardeners can be very particular about what they like and don’t like on their plot. Yet despite the risk of getting it wrong, there are still plenty of garden gift ideas that should prove a successful choice for the gardener in your life.

Flower power

Sarah Raven is as well-known for floristry as she is for gardening and her website (www.sarahraven.com) has an excellent selection of gifts for floral-minded gardeners. Her Really Good Cut Flowers Collection (£29.95), above, aims to fill a house with flowers for most months of the year and contains 20 types of seeds, such as cosmos “Dazzler”, calendula “Indian Prince” and zinnia “Envy”. Florists’ scissors, tissue paper, galvanised buckets and lots more are available, along with a flower press, (£19.95). Elsewhere, a traditional Sussex garden trug (£53, www.henandhamock.co.uk) would make collecting prize blooms a pleasure.

It’s show time

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Options include Gardening Scotland (1-3 June 2012, tickets from £12, www.gardeningscotland.com) featuring more than 400 exhibitors and prize-winning plants from some of the UK’s top nurseries and growers. Tickets for RHS Chelsea Flower Show (22-26 May 2012, £49, www.rhs.org.uk) and the other RHS shows (Cardiff, Malvern, BBC Gardener’s World, Hampton Court Palace and Tatton Park) are already on sale too, showcasing some of the world’s best garden designers and growers.

Seeds

Seeds make great stocking fillers. The Buon Gustaio Selection (£17.95, www.seedsofitaly.com) brings a slice of the Mediterranean to your plot, with seeds including courgette “Romanesco” and borlotti bean “Lamon”. For those who enjoy colourful edibles, the Reds in the Bed Seed Collection (£9.99, www.jekkasherbfarm.com) has gems like red pak choi and “Red Frills” mustard, while Thompson & Morgan’s Kew Collection (www.thompson-morgan.com) comes up with finds such as blue poppies (£2.69) or gourds shaped like Russian dolls from their Kids Collection (£1.69). For those keen to attract more birds into the garden, Sutton’s Wildlife Garden Collection (£4.55, www.suttons.com) has honesty, sweet rocket and aster.

Feed the birds

Almost every gardener loves birds (except perhaps pea-scoffing pigeons) and the Collins Gem - Garden Birds (£4.99, www.harpercollins.co.uk) makes a nice stocking-filler. Then there’s the Birdfeeder’s Starter Pack (£35, www.wigglywigglers.co.uk) which includes two feeders and lots of tasty items including seed mixes and suet blocks. Bird Roosting Pockets (£12.25 – pack of three, www.shopping.rspb.org.uk), right, are another nice inexpensive option or if you’re looking for something that will blend into a contemporary garden, the Belle Fat Feeder (£20, www.wigglywigglers.co.uk) is a stylish circular feeder, in a terracotta or glazed finish in a choice of colours.

Tools

Most gardeners like to choose their own tools, but who could frown when presented with the spork? (£59.95, www.rutlands.co.uk) A spork combines the ability to dig heavy ground and support soil like a spade with the versatility to break up the earth like a fork, making it a useful tool but one many gardeners won’t have heard of, let alone possess. Another nice tool to add to any collection is the onion hoe (£3.99, www.spear-and-jackson.com), below left, for hand cultivation and weeding. If you want to play it safe, some tool oil is bound to be appreciated (£6.95, www.burgonandball.com).

Kitchen Gardener

Those who’re new to growing their own will thank you for a Salad Garden Instant Garden Gift Voucher (£36.99, www.rocketgardens.co.uk) - a salad selection will be despatched in the spring as baby organic plants. Gardener cooks should enjoy Bouquet Garni Bags (£2.85, www.harrodhorticultural.com) which help you to flavour your cooking using your home-grown herbs. For something different why not try a Mushroom Growing Kit (£9.99, www.suttons.co.uk), above right? Nigel Slater’s Tender Vol 1 - A Cook & His Vegetable Patch (£30, Fourth Estate) will provide plenty of inspiration for transforming produce into delicious suppers while a bay tree (£26, www.glut.co.uk) would look as good in a conservatory as in the garden.

Pampering

Dirty fingernails and aching muscles go hand in hand with gardening but there are plenty of remedies to make these a thing of the past. Highland Soaps’ Gardener’s Hand Soap (£4.95, www.highlandsoaps.com) features eucalyptus, lavender and tea tree. Gardener’s Therapies Muscle Soak by Scottish Fine Soaps (£11.95, www.scottishfinesoaps.com), top right, includes soothing ingredients such as aloe vera and avocado oil, making it just the thing to add to a hot bath. For maximum relaxation, add an RHS Freesia Candle (£8.99, www.rhsshop.co.uk), one of a range of fragrances. Other goodies include the Gardener’s 60 Second Fix Kit for Hands (£24, www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk) and Gardener’s Muscle Soak (£8.99, www.rhsshop.co.uk).

Accessories

You’ll have to know what size you’re shopping for if you’re going to buy someone gardening gloves, but for the crème de la crème, try Goldleaf’s Soft Touch Gloves (£19.99, www.goldleaf-gloves.com). Artistic types might enjoy getting some gloves care of the Victoria & Albert Museum – their Ethel Gloves (£18, www.vandashop.com), below, have a colourful floral pattern. If you’re not sure about gloves then why not go for a Kneelo (£14.95, www.burgonandball.com)? Lightweight, easy to carry and made using memory foam, it makes kneeling to do the weeding a lot more comfortable.

Books

Gardening books are like cookery books - even if you never end up trying out more than a few of the recipes you can enjoy hours looking at the photographs. Life in a Cottage Garden by Carol Klein (£20, BBC Books) will transport you to a world of rambling roses and it’s packed full of useful tips too. Sarah Raven’s Wildflowers (£50, Bloomsbury) is probably the ultimate coffee table tome for anyone who loves flowers. John Harrison’s The Essential Allotment Guide (£5.99, Right Way), below left, is a good source of advice, while the River Cottage Handbooks (£14.99, Bloomsbury) cover topics such as vegetables, fruit and hedgerows. If you could only own one gardening book, get the RHS Encyclopedia of Gardening (£35, Dorling Kindersley).

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• Reader offer: Windowsill mushroom kits: two kits, one chestnut and one white button for just £15 including postage. Tel: 0844 701 7625, quoting SM112 or order online on www.dobies.co.uk/SM211. Until 31 Dec, delivery in Jan 2012.

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