Gifts for gardeners
It’s back, the only reasonably sensible list for gardeners of all types, no cashmere pyjamas or pink suede gauntlets here…
Books
Who doesn’t love a coffee table book? These two are my current favourites.
I enjoyed my visit to Le Jardin Plume so much I bought the book. Yes it is in French but you don’t need to be fluent to get the gist of what’s going on. The photos tell the story, and the photos are fab.
I’ve been going to Kew Gardens since I was knee high to a grasshopper but only went into the Marianne North Gallery for the first time earlier this year. All of the 627 paintings - part botanical illustration, part travelogue - are reproduced here. Marianne North visited 13 countries and four continents in the second half of the 19th century and she paid for the construction of the gallery to house all her paintings. A major vanity project? Good for her.
Tools
Most gardeners are suckers for tools, especially really good quality ones. I’ve mentioned Felco secateurs before, as well as Showa 370 gardening gloves, Silky Fox folding saws, Hayter lawnmowers and Henchmen ladders. And they also love seed trays, garden twine, small terracotta pots, compost (but so awkward to wrap…), magazine subscriptions, bird boxes, seeds and cake of course. But small clay pots, perfect for seedlings or fancy displays of auriculas fit the (small) bill nicely. The more vintage the better…
Vintage terracotta pots
Great Days Out
Who doesn’t enjoy a nice garden visit with a fabulous lunch thrown in? Top of my list is Gravetye Manor (still waiting..).
Well no list is complete without a ticket to the Chelsea Flower Show. Is it expensive, is it over crowded, is it worth it? Hell yeah. The RHS runs one or two other shows which are all a bit cheaper, a bit less less busy and, well, you get what you pay for….
Sarah Price’s garden at Chelsea 2023
A more modestly priced day out, especially if you’re including lunch, is a trip to one of my favourite gardens, West Green House Garden in Hampshire. Free to National Trust members on some days of the week (do check). There’s a lovely cafe on site.
West Green House Garden in Hampshire
And if you’re really pushing the boat out, why not book a stay at The Newt in Somerset? You can only visit the gardens, and splendid restaurants, if you stay the night or have friends who have stayed the night.
Go all fancy at The Newt in Somerset
Finishing Touches
Looking for an easy way to boost your garden’s attractiveness to wildlife? Just add water. Birds, insects and mammals will all find a small pond very appealing. It doesn’t have to be deep, or have a fountain or even require digging a big hole.
A small, modestly priced, stone birdbath
A shallow water bowl or bird bath will do the job. A few pebbles and a couple of plants will finish it off nicely.
Large corten steel bowl
But Nothing Says I Love You Like A Cedar Greenhouse
Cedar greenhouse
And finally, what not to buy a gardener unless they have specifically asked for it - an expensive plant. You have no idea how difficult it is to accommodate a rose that’s the wrong colour, or an inappropriately sized tree, into a carefully curated garden.