Gifts for Gardeners and Flower Lovers
Looking for a gift for the garden-loving type?
People who love growing plants and flowers are very often "all in" when it comes to their hobby or farm. They can be pretty particular. But, you're in luck! There are some wonderful specialty products and companies out there that your flower loving friends or loved ones are already drooling over. Here is a list of some great options.
Flower-Infused Goodies
Les Anis de Flavigny - Naturally-flavored candies from France since 1591. I love the violet, rose, and orange blossom flavors. Each comes in a beautifully-designed, oval-shaped tin with floral illustrations. Available on Amazon.com for $8.50.
Belvoir Fruit Farms' Elderflower and Rose Lemonade. The label says %100 good, and this reviewer completely agrees. It is pretty amazing. I've heard you can find it at World Market stores. I found it at a local specialty food store. Available on Amazon.com. Prices vary.
Harney & Sons fine teas - I don't think you can go wrong with any Harney & Sons tea, but these two varieties are crafted with flowers and might appeal to your gift recipient. Try Mother's Day. It has "chamomile flowers blended with rosebuds, cornflowers, and orange peel, infused with citrus flavor." Or, give the Jasmine tea a try. Jasmine features a Pouchong tea base with fresh jasmine flowers. Your flower lover will adore Harney & Sons' beautiful tea tins. When the tea is gone, they make great storage containers, too! $9.
J.R. Watkins lavender lotion and hand and cuticle salves. What better way to sooth sore flower gardening hands than with...more flowers! J.R. Watkins has been making all natural home and health care products since 1868. Their products may also be found at Target stores. $8.99.
Flowers
Flowers for Now (well, soon) - a sweet gift of paperwhites (think mini daffodils) or amaryllis is sure to bring a smile to the face of your flower lover. These flowers grow indoors, from bulbs, that are easily "forced" in the winter months. For some, they represent the first promise of growth to come in the spring. Paperwhites and amaryllis bulbs and growing kits are on sale at Holland Bulb Farms right now. $6-$15.
Local Flowers - Want to give flowers for days? Local flowers won't be ready now for holiday gift giving (in New England, anyways), but they will be ready in a few short months. Your local flower farm probably offers flower subscriptions- a perfect gift for anyone who loves flowers and cares about supporting local farms and businesses. If you're familiar with CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) vegetable, dairy, or meat shares, you understand flower subscriptions. "Buy into" your favorite flower farm with an early purchase of weekly summer bouquets or arrangements. Some farms even offer to deliver your share right to your door. CSA shares help farmers purchase the seeds and materials they need upfront, in the winter and early spring. They also help farmers save for hoop houses, green houses, and other resources for season extension- ultimately helping them provide you with even more flowers in the future. CSA shares make great gifts. You can view our offerings here. Or search the Floret Farmer-Florist Collective for a farm near you. $75-$275.
Plant or Seed-certificates - Does your recipient prefer to grow his or her own blooms? There are a number of high quality seed catalogue businesses that cater to gardeners who prefer unique or heirloom seed varieties. Some of our favorites are Johnny's Selected Seeds, Swallowtail Garden Seeds, Diane's Flower Seeds. For established plants, we like Bluestone Perennials and Digging Dog Nursery.
Everlasting Wreath - Give flowers that will last and last. Strawflower, statice, and globe amaranth combine to make beautiful dried flower wreaths. Etsy is a good place to look for homemade products made by other flower lovers. Look carefully, though, there are some Etsy shops that use faux flowers. For the real thing, check out AndreaBeitzel, of A&M Growers. This store is offering a gorgeous blue globe thistle wreath, among many other beautiful options. $36.99.
Tools/Resources:
Floret Farmer-Florist Tool Belt - Does your gift recipient spend more time in the garden than anywhere else? If you're looking for an upscale option you might consider Floret Flower Farm's Farmer-Florist Tool Belt. Made by Wheeler Munroe leather company, it comes in black or brown in versions for right or left-handed farmers and gardeners. The tool belt can hold all sorts of things close at hand, from cell phones to flower snips. $165.
Floral Snips or Precision Pruners - Flower growers are really particular about their tools. They need to be comfortable in hand, with sharp blades. I love my Corona Tools ComfortGEL® Micro Snips. I carry them with me just about everywhere on the farm, and I often travel with them, because...um...you never know when you might need to make an arrangement, right? You can find them on the Corona Tools USA site here, or you can pick up a pair at your local Agway store. $15.
Blooming Books - When it comes to flower growing and arranging books, there are some new classics. You can't go wrong with Ariella Chezar's The Flower Workshop or Flowers to the Table. Or, grab a copy of The Flower Recipe Book by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo. Lastly, this March you'll want, Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest, and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms. It is available for pre-order on Floret's site.
I hope this post is a helpful resource for the holiday gift-giving season. It can be difficult to figure out what to give people who are in the business of gift giving for a living! Best wishes to you this holiday season.
