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Agricultural
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Arbor Day
Dale Bumpers College
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Gifts for the GardenerNumber 1 Hobby • Hardware • Bird Feeders • Books • Clothes Gift giving at the holidays is a pleasure for most people, but for those hard-to-buy for people it can become a chore. You are in luck though, if you have gardeners to buy for. There is always something new, or coveted, in the gardening world, and there are plenty of places to find them. Gardening is the number one hobby in the United States, and whether your (or their) interests lie in flowers or trees, vegetables or fruits, or indoor houseplants, new and innovative equipment and cultivars appear monthly. There are plants to buy, including permanent trees and shrubs, or flowering plants from poinsettias to azaleas. There are bulbs for the garden, or forced pots of spring blooming bulbs, or large amaryllis bulbs to give a gorgeous display within six weeks. Houseplants in all sizes and shapes will give a pretty display. Potted herbs, topiaries and bonsai plants round out the plant list. Then look at containers to put them in. From clay to ceramic, brushed metal to painted, plastic and baskets, there is a size and shape for all tastes, and to fit all price ranges. Remember that all plants need drainage holes, so you can leave your plants in the uglier plastic pots, and then set them down in the decorative containers. Don't forget to buy a plastic liner to catch runoff. If you don't want to give a living plant, or you need to mail the gift look at some of the "hardware". There are shovels and trowels, rakes and hoses. Drip irrigation sets, or outdoor lighting kits, solar lights, stepping stones, soaker hoses, and mulching machines abound. Then there are weed wackers, lawn mowers, tillers, wheel barrows, and edgers. There are hand tools for weeding, raking and planting. If you need a pruning tool, there are lightweight clippers for houseplants, hand pruners -- both right and left-handed models, loppers, hedge shears, tree trimmers and for the heavy-duty jobs, there are various sized chain saws. Recycling is popular and so too is composting. Start your gardener off with a variety of compost bins, from small trash can size to the larger tumblers and throw in some compost starter. For the experienced composter, there are compost thermometers, compost turners, compost test kits and composting sieves. If gardening gadgets are taking over the home, look at some storage components, from storage benches, to shelves or tool racks. Outdoor models come in a variety of sizes from those big enough to hold a few tools, to those that can house a tractor. And just think, the more space they have, the more things they will want or need. Gardening and nature go hand-in-hand. What about bird feeders and bird houses. Then there are bat houses, butterfly houses and even toad abodes to shelter the frogs and toads that visit your garden. Ladybug homes and bee hives can add even more to your garden. If these seem too impersonal, there are decorative items from statuaries, to fountains, bird baths and garden sculpture. There are ornamental trellises and archways, in wrought iron, steel, treated wood, or the more rustic rattan. There are all sizes and shapes of patio furniture from garden benches and tables, to shelves and umbrellas and potting benches. There are kneeling benches, work stools and rolling carts to make the gardening tasks easier. To add to the list there are literally thousands of gardening books available covering virtually every aspect ever thought of in gardening, from technical manuals, to decorative table-top books. From weeds and wildflowers, to bees and butterflies, water gardening and flower arranging, there is a book for everyone. Garden journals are a popular item, for your gardener to keep records of what they are planting and when. If you don't know for sure where their interests lie, then opt for one of the many gardening magazines. A subscription to these are sure to please. Again there are lots of options including American Horticulturist, Organic Gardening, Fine Gardening, National Gardening, Home & Garden, Flower & Garden, and on and on. If these aren't enough ideas, there is a whole line of garden clothing to choose from. Whether it is a garden apron, work pants, gardeners smock, gardeners vest to hold all the extra tools or a garden tool belt, they all will delight the avid gardener. There are gardening gloves to fit all jobs, from the standard cloth ones to mud gloves, thorn-resistant gloves, goat-skin and fleece-lined. Then there are shoes: garden clogs -- in leather, suede or vinyl, waterproof garden shoes, boots of all sizes and colors. Rain suits, and bug suits with protective bug netting, as well as a variety of hats to shield you from all elements are also available. Don't despair if you have a gardener to buy for. In fact, there may be some gardener-wanna-be's just waiting for some inspiration that you could start off on a life-long journey with just the right gardening gift. So, grab your checkbook and start shopping. |
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