Give home gardeners gifts they will dig

Make your favorite gardener’s holiday a little brighter with presents that will come in handy this spring, or can be enjoyed indoors during the winter months.

Members of Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s specialty crops advisory committee shared their favorite gardening gift ideas.

André Viette of Viette Nurseries in Augusta County recommended going to a full-service garden center to pick out a tree or shrub as a holiday gift. “People remember a special tree or shrub that you give them,” he said.

Viette also suggested a nice set of shears for that special someone. A.M. Leonard’s, Bahco or Felco shears will last a long time and make good clean cuts, he shared.

Gardeners appreciate high-quality tools, and sometimes gift-givers find it difficult to detect a higher-quality tool, Viette explained. “European, imported tools from England or France are better, though they are more expensive.”

Forged tools are better than stamped tools, but steel is the best quality, Viette said.

A quality trowel set also would make a nice gift. “Go for an English, stainless steel shovel or spade.”

He also recommended buying a big, cement container that can be used for outdoor or indoor plants and flowers.

Becky Heath of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs in Gloucester County added that many people buy trowels, gloves and gardening books as gifts for gardeners. Other good gifts include items that gardeners can enjoy when they can’t work outdoors.

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs offers mid-winter living flower arrangements in warm or cool colors on their website. The arrangements are filled with pre-cooled and rooted bulbs that will emerge and bloom indoors during the winter.

“Once the danger of hard freeze in the spring is over, the bulbs can be transferred to the garden to bloom the following year,” Heath said.

Paperwhites or amaryllises also make great gifts to bring cheer indoors.

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs sells Indoor Holiday Cheer, which is a mix of paperwhites and amaryllis surrounded by oxalis. “It’s sold as a kit with all the pieces and parts and pictured instructions and a white box and holiday card.”

For the gardener who has everything and loves fresh flowers, consider giving the gift of a monthly flower delivery.