Gifts for the green-fingered, from stainless steel spades to sweet lavender soap and spotty wellies
IF YOUR GRANNY grew houseplants, chances are that she grew the South African Crassula ovata, commonly known as the jade plant or money plant. The shrubby succulent has blobby, shiny leaves that were thought to resemble coins, and accordingly, in some cultures, it was supposed to bring wealth to a household. This Christmas, one of the leanest in years, Murphy and Wood in Cabinteely, Dublin is offering nicely-grown money plants(€18.50), and even if they don't bring riches, there is some compensation in the gold-wrapped chocolate coins attached.
Citrus plantsare another seasonal treat, with their bright fruits all a-dangle. The most prolific and the easiest to grow in a heated Irish home is calamondin, which bears tiny, mouth-puckeringly sour tangerine-like fruits (available in good garden centres, including Avoca in Kilmacanogue, €30-€48). Also suitable for a warm room is the Phalaenopsis or moth orchid(good garden centres, and Avoca in Kilmacanogue (€19.95-€32).
We gardeners are particular about our tools, and once we find one we like, we're reluctant to let it out of our sight. An item that I recommended last year, and that I'm still keen on, is the Austrian-made PKS copper trowel(€35 from Ecoshop, Greystones, Co Wicklow and online at www.ecoshop.ie; and €33 (plus p and p) by mail order from Fruithill Farm, Bantry, www.fruithillfarm.com). It's lightweight, sharp, strong, and easy to clean. Burgon and Balltools (widely available, from around €12.50) are also good and sturdy, as are those made by Spear Jackson.
A new Irish mail-order business that has a range of tools by the latter company is Gardeners Life (www.gardenerslife.ie): a stainless steel border fork and spadecost €29.99 each (including p and p), while the hand fork and trowel are €19.99 apiece. Gardeners Life are also the agents for greenhouses, gazebos, fire pits, trampolines, furniture, and a host of garden gadgetry.
Mr Middleton (Mary Street, Dublin 1 and www.mrmiddleton.com) also offer a clatter of garden-related gifts and practical items. Among those I wouldn't mind receiving are the Haws' brass plant mister(€12.95) and the Haws indoor copper watering can(€49.95). Mr Middleton has also recently acquired the agency for Agriframes arches, obelisks and screens. The starter size fruit cage(€299), measuring 2.5m x 5m, and 1.83 metres high (not pictured) has been a great hit with gardeners who want to keep birds off their crops.
Bird-loving gardeners, on the other hand, may be interested in the quill drinker and feederalso from Mr Middleton (€44.95) which combines seed and peanut compartments with a water reservoir. Water is delivered by quill-like teats that prevent potential contamination by bird diseases, and the device, although not a thing of beauty, is worthy, and is endorsed by David Bellamy. Birds are well catered for at most garden centres, but if you're looking for handsome feeders, Ecoshop stocks the stainless steel Chapelwood range, including a 40cm peanut feeder(€24.95) and a 40cm seed feeder(€32.50), and Avoca has pretty wire hangersfor fat balls (€7.50). Bumble bees(what will they think of next?), may be homed in a ceramic bumble bee nester (Ecoshop and Mr Middleton, €24.99).
The gardening life can be hard on the hands (not to mention our poor backs and knees), and good gloves are essential. For precision work, the best glovesI've found yet are the machine washable, Malaysian-made Showa 265 (Murphy and Wood, €5.50). Don't be put off by the 1960s-ish pale blue nylon finish: I promise you, these are the business for those finicky jobs where close-fitting gloves are needed.
While we're on the subject of hands, gardeners can never have too much hand cream, especially at this time of the year when the weather is harsh. Irish-made Garden of Ireland gardener's hand creamwith shea butter and sweet lavender hand cream are widely available (€9.95), as is the lovely Burt's Bees range of natural unguents. The outdoor survival kit, a medley of potions and creams, costs €19.95 at Avoca.
The Italian company, Nesti Dante, makes big cakes of garden-themed soapsin pretty wrappings (Avoca, €4.95): "flavours" include peach and melon, tomato, cucumber, carrot, red grapes and blueberries, and pumpkin.
From hands to knees and so to feet, all the following are at Avoca: a rather jolly kneelerwith a corn on the cob design (€7.95), as well as patterned welliesa-plenty (€24.99). If brand names are required, Hunter boots will set you back €83.95 a pair. Mucky soles may be wiped on a polka dot coir mat(€23.95). And, when the work is done, chilly nights in the garden may be made bearable with a mohair rug(142cm x 183cm, €86.50).
At the same shop, there are hand-thrown ceramic containersfrom France with shiny glazes. Roundy pots with incised patterns and bands of Mediterranean colour cost €13.50, €23.50 and €36.95, while angular blocky planters, artistically skewed, and in saturated, single tones cost €25.50.
Stocking-filler gifts at Ecoshop include a nicely-made hand-turned pot tamper, made from yew (€16.95), and balls of recycled cotton cord(€4.50), essential for tying up and tying in.
We talked about gardening books last week, but let's not forget garden diaries. Publisher Frances Lincoln has produced a pocket diary(£6.99/€8.21) and a desk diary (£11.99/€14) in association with the Royal Horticultural Society. Both feature fine horticultural engravings from the society's collection in the Lindley Library, and are available in some garden centres, gift shops and book shops.
A subscription to a garden magazinemakes a fine gift, and there are two Irish publications to choose from. A year of Garden Heavenmagazine (six issues) costs €30, from Image Publications, 22 Crofton Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin; 01-2808415; www.gardenheaven.ie. And a year of the Irish Garden(10 issues) may be had for €46 from Mediateam Ltd, Media House, South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18; 01-2947712; www.irishgardensubs.com.
Finally, if there is a gardener in your life who has everything, or is super-fussy, then surprise them with a gift voucherfrom a favourite nursery or garden centre. Take a break from racking your brains, and let them do the thinking.