Consider giving gardening gifts made by hand
By Bonnie Orr
WSU Chelan/Douglas County Master Gardener
You already know that Christmas is days away. Last-minute gifts for my gardening friends are from my heart and hands, so they are homemade and practical and need no special packaging and delivery that can be detrimental to the environment.
Plant markers: Nothing is more disheartening than to plant a prized specimen or some special seeds and then lose track of them in the garden as the surrounding foliage plants grow lush. I have purchased at a local thrift store odds and ends of forks and knives. (Spoons do not work for this project since they do not project easily into the ground.) Using a spray can of bright, yes, bright, color, coat both sides of the handles of the forks and knives. At first, you will think the paint job looks garish. But I promise you that by June, the flatware will blend nicely into the flowerbed and will not disappear as the subtle green, white or metal markers do. These knife and fork markers can even be used as supports for small, special plants. Wrap the plant markers with a ribbon and include an indelible pen so your gift recipient can write the plant’s name on the re-purposed silverware’s handle.
Leaves: Did you store lots of fall leaves in bags or under a tarp this fall? Gardeners who lack deciduous trees in their yard lust after your wealth of fallen leaves and would welcome several large bags of leaves (preferably the ones you have chopped up slightly) either to use as compost or for flowerbed mulch. I have shared a bag of leaves with beginning composters with a promise of a “starter” from my compost pile to arrive in the spring.
Seeds: Gardeners touring my garden often say, “Oh save some of those seeds for me, please. I love that plant.” Well, guess what they are getting for Christmas! I save up little cans with lids and prescription medicine bottles to paint or cover with scraps of cloth or use a photo of the plant to decorate the container. Labeling seeds with indelible ink is essential. Honestly, in five months, you or your friend will not remember what each of those seeds is going to grow. Computer-printed labels often run when dampened, so use an indelible pen to write the name of the plant’s seeds on the container. You can print up a little plant bio and put it in the container to remind your friend what he admired last summer.
I think you still have time to make thin sheets of paper mâché. Before it dries, embed seeds in it. When dry, cut the paper mâché into decorative shapes, such as stars, punch a hole, and add a ribbon to each one. These are great gifts for budding gardeners, especially children. This gift is a seed mat and the entire gift is planted in the spring or in a pot. If you use herb seeds and the recipient plants it on Christmas Day, she will have fresh herbs to clip by Valentine’s Day.
Jam and salsa: My favorite gifts to give from my garden are produce. Just this week, I made jelly and jam from the fruit I froze last summer. It is too hot and too busy in July and August to stop and make jam. However, making jam on these wet, cold days fills my kitchen with the redolent summer smells and makes me smile. I love setting a jar of the plum jelly in the kitchen window so the sun shines through and projects cheerful summer color into the room.
Gift Certificates: No time? No inspiration? Here is the best gift you can give to a gardening friend— a set of gift certificates volunteering your labor for the next year. Any gardener will appreciate a set of 12 certificates either with specific tasks, a number of hours of labor or for specific dates during the year (birthday, etc.) Print off a beautiful card and certificates. You can promise help with weeding (several of those would be welcomed), pruning, planting, harvesting, houseplant care when the friends go on vacation — the possibilities for gift certificates abound!
From your hands and heart enjoy making gifts for your friends. They are truly priceless, personal gifts.
A WSU Chelan and Douglas County Master Gardener column appears weekly in The Wenatchee World. To learn more about your local Master Gardener program, visit bit.ly/MGchelandouglas or call (509) 667-6540.