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Useful Gifts for the Gardener

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Useful gifts for the gardener come in many forms. The Cobrahead tool is just one of the many useful tools for gardeners of any level.

It is that time of the year where anyone can be overwhelmed with what to give as a gift. This year many people are on a budget. More than ever before, the act of gifting is taken seriously. I want to share a few options, as well as ideas of useful gifts for the gardener.

USEFUL STOCKING STUFFFERS

Stockings can hold a myriad of small gifts that any gardener might find useful. One of my favorite tools is the Cobrahead tool. It is small, cute for gardening in tight spaces, and guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of any gardener. It comes in multiple sizes and I am certain that once you share one as a gift…YOU will need one as well.

What real gardener does not want a GOOD Corona tool?? Having a Corona in your stocking is truly a gift of love. One of my favorite Corona tools would be the snips…or the ComfortGELpruners or… I simply cannot decide!! One thing for sure, each of these (and more) will fit into a stocking.

USEFUL CURATED GIFTS

Espoma anything says that you care.

It’s important to know what you are using to grow good plants. Espoma has been around since 1929. That is quite a track record. I personally know that Espoma was and continues to be a household name. I cannot remember a season when I didn’t see a bag of Hollytone amidst my Dad’s garden supplies. Here is a great idea. Choose your best cutting or two. Add a bag of the appropriate Espoma product, a cute container, and a personal note of encouragement.

No cutting? Purchase a small houseplant from your favorite garden center. Provide all the necessary tools from soil to food from the trusted line of Espoma products. Tried, tested and true, Espoma is the most trusted name in organic gardening products. This will be the gift that will provide confidence in growing for any gardener.

Another useful gift…SEEDS! Seeds are a hot commodity right now. There are so many people beginning to garden, seeds are HOT! A gift certificate to almost any seed resource is not just useful, but it will show that you are in the know. Consider a gift card to a local garden center as they will offer seeds, starter mix, and more.

USEFUL KNOWLEDGE

Gardening isn’t going anywhere. Having the knowledge to know how to garden in any space you have is powerful. Kim Roman is offering a Square Foot Gardening Class Bundle. This bundle of classes offers a wealth of knowledge. Kim Roman is our local expert on Squarefoot Gardening. An excellent teacher, as well as a practitioner of Squarefoot gardening, Kim is offering an online course that is a terrific deal!

The regular price is $65, but you’ll get them ALL for just $50! Let Kim show you how to “Confidently Grow Your Own Food!” The Garden Class Bundle includes – Small Veggie Gardening (SVG) + Microgreens, Square Foot Gardening (SFG) 101 – The Basics, SVG/SFG 201 – Beyond the Basics, Grow Up! Vertical Gardening, and Fall and Winter Gardening Without a Greenhouse. There are also two FREE courses !! For more information, contact Kim at SFGKimRoman@yahoo.com.

You can’t have veggies without pollinator-attracting plants! Heather Andrews is offering an online course called “5 Weeks to a Fabulous Fall Pollinator Garden”. For only $49 you’ll receive a week-by-week video guide and a bonus guide to the best vendors & products! This is perfect for the gardener that recognizes the importance of having a garden that welcomes pollinators. You can find out more by clicking here.

Useful gifts are always appreciated. When a gardener receives a useful gift, it is an invitation to get outside to garden.

I wonder what will be in my stocking and under my tree this year…a book, a pair of gloves, seeds, or a useful item I am longing for.

Dreaming of a useful garden item…

Teri, Cottage In The Court

***Remember, know your zone and ask questions.

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Heartfelt Valentines for Gardeners

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Heartfelt Valentines Day gifts can be carefully curated with just a little special attention to the message you want to send.

Heartfelt gifts for Valentine’s day come in many forms. Especially for the Gardener in your life. Finding unique ways to say I Love You for those who enjoy having their hands in the soil is easier than you think! Here are a few heartfelt ideas that keep on giving.

GROWING RED WITH PURPOSE

Heartfelt flowers in red can be more than a bouquet of roses.

Floral bouquets are so easy and practical, right?? How generic is that? As a gardener, a perfect heartfelt gift would be flowers for the garden. A plant that has a red bloom or stem that might be deer-proof would be ideal. Some suggestions are Yarrow “Red Beauty”, Dianthus “Odessa Red” or Salvia Microphylla “HotLips” – all seem appropriate.

If you really want to show off, order a peony in the fall and pot it up for gifting on this day of love. There are also online reputable resources for peonies purchased in the Spring. Usually, these will arrive at the proper planting time. Suggested cultivars are Itoh “Scarlet Heaven”, “Red Charm”, “Red Magic”, “Kansas” or “Blaze”. This would show you put a little thought into selections that become more voluptuous year after year. Even if you order a gift certificate for these cultivars, the message would be clear. Your heartfelt intentions will convey a lot.

EDIBLE REDS FOR HEALTH

Red peppers can be heartfelt in more ways than one. Especially homegrown, mixed into avocado spread on whole-grain bread. A little sizzle in the morning…what fun!

It is the time of year to sow seeds. In my zone, February is the optimum time to sow pepper seeds. Red peppers would definitely show you care about a healthy lifestyle. Did you know red peppers are simply loaded with nutrition?? When you consider they have almost eleven times the beta-carotene of green peppers, that shows you care! There is also that higher Vitamin C component – 1.5 times more in red peppers. Not sure what seeds to buy? Visit your local garden center and choose red pepper seeds to start indoors.

The other option is mail order. I love the selections from Botanical Interests. Sweet choices of something like Jimmy Nardello Sweet Peppers or Yolo Wonder Sweet Pepper seeds. For those who like it hot, Santaka Chile Peppers or some real sizzle, Scotch Bonnet Chile Pepper seeds.

Amaranth seeds or Scarlet Emporer Runner Bean seeds are great edibles that make a statement in the summer garden. One obvious choice is the ever loved tomato. If you want options, a terrific resource that shares online tomato love all year is RennaisanceFarms.org. I look at the tomato photos and simply adore the descriptions. As I move more towards container plantings, Micro dwarf and dwarf varieties are piquing my interests. Varieties like Geranium Kiss is one that I will try to grow this year.

Heartfelt plants in a box with a bow can leave a perennial message of love.

Other edible red options are strawberry plant roots, Rhubarb roots, Thornless Red Rasberry Canes, or Lingonberry plants. Make certain your Valentine has room to accommodate these perennial plants. Also, know what zone your Valentine lives in.

HEARTFELT HOUSEPLANTS

An in-home oasis created by heartfelt houseplants is a unique idea. Especially if they are red.

Houseplant offerings have increased over the years. After all, everybody is not inclined to play in the soil outdoors. There are houseplant offerings that are quite unique. If purchased in advance, the Amaryllis “Red Lion” is a great choice. After bloom, this bulb can summer outdoors or in a bright room. Care and instructions are given for reblooming when purchased or can be found online.

Other heartfelt choices are the Anthurium, Bromeliad, and the Red Christmas Cactus. There are other houseplants that might be a favorite of your Valentine, so choose wisely. Stay away from houseplants that have artificial dyes in the foliage or blooms. If they survive the blooms will not be the same color and the new growth will be green.

Sometimes known as Christmas Cactus, this is one of the easiest plants to grow and share.

Heartfelt gifts for this day of showing your Valentine can be as unique as you want. It is how much thought you put into the selection, that will show just how much you notice and care.

Here’s hoping your Valentine reads this…skip the chocolate, please.

Growing Love for humankind…

Teri, Cottage In The Court

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Gardentopia – Blueprint for Beautiful

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Gardentopia captured my heart like any book written by Jan Johnsen tends to do. It was hard to turn the page without a lot of emotion from the beauty on each and every page.

Gardentopia Design Basics for Creating Beautiful Outdoor Spaces by Jan Johnsen is a five chapter blueprint of brilliance in landscape design. Novice or experienced gardeners will see the value of having this book in their collection. Trust me, it will not sit on your shelf.

Our gardens are personal interpretations of who we are. Jan Johnsen gifts the reader with ideas on gaining perspective of their green spaces. Stepping back, visualizing what you want and then implementing the  garden of your dreams is key.

Sharing thoughts on considering the genius of place, Gardentopia has captured the pictures to complement the words for a successful blueprint for beauty. From recycling, using additional vistas, to how to use circles in the landscape are a few of the topics Jan Johnsen shares in Gardentopia.

We are all aware that first impressions are lasting. The front yard can share your personality to the world. From the walkway width to the plant selection to the planters, each has a role to play. The benefits? Property values can be increased by 10 – 15%…nice, huhn?

Chapter 4 delves into Color In The Garden. I love color, adore color. I cannot live without bold colors in my garden. If you are hesitant of  color and what it can do for your garden – this is the chapter for you. Color can uplift the spirit and calm down the setting…oh the magic of color!

Jan provides a blueprint for color and how to use it in the garden. One color, hot colors, restful colors, sometimes it can be hard to decide what color and how to use it. Color can be more than just the plants you choose. Page 187 – I almost have the words memorized. The words on this page truly reached in and touched my soul. Jan shared thoughts on the sound of flowers. I get emotional just thinking about the words again and again.

I highly suggest this book for anyone who communicates with nature via the garden. With several days ahead for gifting like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation or just a I Love Me gift for self, Gardentopia should be at the top of the list. Jan Johnsen speaks my language as she simplifies the perfect blueprint for creating your beautiful outdoor space.

Thank you Jan Johnsen for such a beautiful book that the world can use.

Visualizing Beauty Daily,

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Get What You Want

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“Get what you want” – this phrase seems a tad selfish at times. However, when you have received those holiday dollars, what else is there to do, but put this into practice.

I make every effort to practice this when I can, particularly when it comes to my quality of life in the garden. While my daughters gift me with abundant LOVE and trinkets – I get what I want for me. Here are a few of my favorite self-gifted items that are essential when I garden.

Newly released book from Julie Thomson-Adolf that educates gardeners of all levels on how to start seeds, as well as the importance of seeds for the garden.

I can never resist a good gardening book – especially when I know the author. Earlier this year when the publishing date was revealed, I knew it would become a part of my library. An informative, colorful and beautifully  photographed book, Julie Thomson-Adolf  has reached every level of gardener.

While it is an easy read, the journey between this beautiful cover is inspirational. A great book to read between seed catalogs as we nest over the winter…and buy seeds, of course.

Stocking stuffer’s never made your hands feel so good.

Crabtree and Evelyn has the perfect collection of items for this gardener’s hands. Ever use hand scrub with pumice? The two types of pumice in this scrub really aid in deep cleaning. With a fresh herbal fragrance, the aloe and honey leave your hands feeling silky.  Although they had me at shea butter, the macadamia nut oil makes for the perfect combination. A repeat practice of seed starting over the winter is the perfect excuse to make my hands dirty, just so I can clean and moisturize them again.

A gift set for the gardener that yearns for more of a good thing.

Crabtree & Evelyn also has a terrific gift set called “Dig This”. What a treat to self this is. It includes a hand primer, Overnight Hand Therapy, Ultra Moisturising Hand Therapy and a cute pouch to out all of this goodness in. The hand care products by Crabtree and Evelyn have been at the top of my favorites list for years!!! My Dad gifted me with my first tube of Ultra Moisturising Hand Therapy and I love it!!

Botanical Interests always offers something that definitely speaks to getting what you want…even seeds.

As a garden communicator, I simply adore everything about Botanical Interests. This year I needed a tool to transplant my seedlings. I was instantly drawn to the English tool called a Widger. I know I should have stopped there, however the seed collections were enticing and who doesn;t need a Botanical Interests Desk calendar? My love affair with Botanical Interests continues into the next season of sowing seeds. Afterall, the object is to get what you want, right?

Elegant, sleek and multitasking , the Bella SmartWatch is the perfect self gift for any occasion.

If you know me, you know I love the Bella Beat products. This beautiful, yet functional watch serves as my SmartWatch. Minding my step count daily, my stress levels, and my sleep habits will be a tad easier with this arm candy. It even tells time ,imagine that??

My final perfect combination that helps protect me as I effectively tackle all of my pruning tasks.

Choosing the proper tools for any job is key. After work, I find peace in my garden. Particularly when I have my Corona pruner’s and a pair of Womanswork gloves.

One of the latest items in the Corona tool family, the ese pruner’s are just wonderful.

Corona introduced the Flex Dial with Comfort Gel grips branch and stem pruner’s. Let me tell you. I keep them nearby. You could say my Corona pruner’s are my comfort pruner’s. The comfort grip really makes a difference if you have wrist issues or lack hand strength. I can dial-up 8 different positions to reduce hand fatigue. A long overdue too for my tool bag.

Womanswork gloves with the essential mosquito arm covers are great …and I do not garden without them.

Last but not least, Women’s Work gloves are essential to any walk in the garde. With the attached mosquito guard mesh arm covers, these are in my tool bag, so I can garden even after a rain. Settling just above the elbow, cutting flowers for the home or simple deadheading without being eaten alive is wonderful. Get what you want from your garden at any time and not worry about being Mosquito dessert.

The Rolling Stones lyrics…

“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime you find…You get what you need”

SO NOT TRUE!!!  You can get what you want, you just have to know what you want.

Nesting with my gifts to self…

Teri, Cottage In The Court

I was not paid to endorse any of the above mentioned products. I just seriously believe in them.Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailby feather

Mindful Gardening…

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Mindful gardening requires one to consider not just a physical act, but a mental exercise. To approach mindfulness in any situation, one must consider the intention or purpose of why. The intention of disturbing soil to create an area with what we might consider beautiful is usually done with a specific purpose in mind. This mindful intention can help us create the garden of our dreams.

Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist was just the book I needed to read while in the midst of home improvement and not being able to tend to my garden due to the ‘busyness’ of the year.

Recently I read a book by Shauna Niequist Present Over Perfect – Leaving Behind Frantic For A Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living. Let’s face it, in today’s world mindfulness is not how most people think. Whether it is gardening or simple garden clean up, most consider this a task that just needs to be taken care of. From the leaf blower to the lawn mower most people simply take care of the task at hand. We just want to change the appearance, make it neat and find something fun to do. I found this book a great tool to step beyond this mindset and become an agent of change.

As a garden enthusiast, change is anticipated annually. The fresh green leaves evolve in Spring as nature readies us for the next season. An abundance of diverse beauty evolves in the harmony of each season.  As blooms exert their last gasp of energy at the end of a colorful cycle of bloom, we should not be saddened by this. A friend who has a “perfect ” yard stopped by as the season was changing. There was a casual mention that almost pierced my inner peace, the joy of my natural garden. “I guess when it was summer your garden was beautiful”, she said. At this point, I realized she was not embracing the moment in my garden. The garden was giving it’s best at this imperfectly beautiful time of the year.

I see the garden daily as it evolves from a simple mulch bed with bulbs rearing their heads to the heavens in the Spring. When summer comes, the garden is in full bloom.  I pause to notice spent blooms and seed heads forming. When autumn arrives with finches and colorfully evolving foliage, I still find my garden beautiful. With the gray winter days, the structure of the shrubs, trees and garden art, we should positively embrace our landscape evolving. In my mind, the garden is always beautiful.

Referencing Shauna Niequist’ book, we tend to move through life too quickly. Consider what we are enjoying and what we allow ourselves to enjoy. Do we garden to beautify our surroundings? Are we gardening to feed our souls or to keep up with our neighbors? This book provides tools that encourage us to slow down and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

Part 1 of this book references a powerful quote -“Busyness is an illness of Spirit” Eugene Peterson. Shauna shares an experience that many of us are sure to identify with. No matter how accomplished she became, the more frantic she became. Her inner spirit and her body reacted negatively on many levels. Always having something to do or somewhere to be. In our minds, we feel as though we must check things off the list.

How can we change this to enjoy life or even our gardens more? We must learn the life-changing word -“NO”.Not always having something to do in the garden is a freeing experience. There are times the garden begs us to just sit and enjoy. To simply appreciate the present moment and not require perfection. A mindset that can be liberating for many. Realizing this before you begin to look at the garden as a chore is a beautifully empowering feeling.

At one point the author shares her experience of being a Candy Thrower. Quite honestly I can identify with this mindset. No matter how panicky those around me are, I will find something to break the tenseness of the moment. Allowing herself to become jaded decreased her ability to be a Candy Thrower. When best-laid plans dissipate in the garden, instead of whining about what I did wrong, I instead choose to throw a bit of Candy on the situation. There will be another growing season (prayerfully), another place to move that misplaced plant or give it away. It is not the end of the world.

While not a book specific to gardeners, this is a book that touched my creative inner spirit.  As we approach the holidays, perhaps this should be on the list for sharing.

Gardening Mindfully,

TeriFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmailby feather