Tis the time of year where I start to receive messages from folks asking what I’d recommend giving to gardeners and flower lovers, and I definitely have a full list of favorite things to share…so I’m doing it right here. Please know that I am affiliated with none of the companies mentioned: I just love what they make and everything listed is something I personally use and enjoy!
Gifts for Gardeners and Aspiring Flower Growers
Hori Hori Garden Knife: this is my go to garden tool that is wonderful for planting and cutting through weeds and roots. There are many out there, but this one is my personal favorite that has stood the test of time and abuse (losing tools in the field is one of my specialties, and this one hasn’t rusted one bit even after many a rain showers).
Seeds from my favorites Renees Garden, Rare Seeds, and Select Seeds (or gift cards to any of those companies!) are always a fun gift to give. Varieties of cosmos, zinnias, and sunflowers are wonderful for beginners and can be planted right after the last frost.
Gardening guides and inspo books have always been gifts I’ve found to be so thoughtful, and I always love when the giver has signed the book so I think of that person every time I reference it!
The Complete Gardener by Monty Don, The Land Gardeners Cut Flowers, Cut Flower Garden, Emily Dickinson’s Gardening Life, and The Flower Yard are my current top 5 picks and ones I constantly read or simply browse through to enjoy the photos.
Barnes and Noble is linked below since I know they offer all 5, but please check in and support your local bookstores first if you can!
Gardening clothes are also a wonderful gift, and the two tried and true pieces of clothing I wear all through the season are Duluth Heirloom Gardening Bibs (spring/summer) and Carhartt Heavyweight Pocket Leggings (fall/winter). They’re water resistant, comfortable, and hold up well through many many washings. Plus they’re cute and well cut, which I think most can appreciate.
Lotions and gloves! Gardening and farming can be rough on the hands, and though there is no shame to have dirt under the fingernails, split fingertips hurt and can be a big distraction from the joy of growing. Giving a hand care package to a grower is a great gift idea! Nitrile gloves are my personal favorites to use (and you can find them in so many places), and the miracle lotion for me is from a favorite small company based out of Charleston, South Carolina called Old Whaling Company. Their lotion is magic and smells delicious (or not if you want to unscented type;), and it’s the reason that my hands stay smooth to the touch even if they are tattooed in dirt. Plus they really are the kindest people and always gift the cutest samples with your purchases : if you ever get a chance to shop with them in person, do it! But until then, here’s a link to their shop.
Gifts for Flower Arrangers
Tools to create a foam free flower arrangement, including flower frogs, vases, and floral snips, are wonderful for creating a gift bundle that can be enjoyed and utilized again and again.
If you’re searching for new items, these are some of my favorite companies to buy from:
If you’re hoping to gift vintage pieces, Etsy is always my favorite go to stop for flower frogs and vases, in addition to local antique shops and estate sales! I also have an offering of vintage vessels that ship within the US if you’re interested in taking a peek!
Last but not least, for all flower lovers, the gift of local flowers in the form of bouquet subscriptions is a wonderful idea! There are those that deliver (that’s me!), those that ship (3 Porch Farm in Georgia is a personal favorite for that route), and those who require pick up from their farm.
Whichever route you choose to go, gifting local flowers will always be the best because they’ll be the freshest, most unique, and most eco friendly bouquets you can give! Though it’s a gift that your recipient may need to wait for, the perk is that it will be such a wonderful weekly reminder of you in the spring.
Hope that guide was helpful, and please let me know if you have any other suggestions to add to the list!
Happy shopping and happy holidays!