I enjoy shopping for the plant lovers in my life.  Whether it’s a container garden, a pair of pruning shears, a truck load of compost, a shade tree or a conifer, it’s easy to shop for gardeners.  I prefer to select gifts in person but if you shop online there are also many options.  Let’s start with the obvious choice of plants.  Winter is the perfect time (provided the ground is not frozen) to plant a deciduous fruit or shade tree  or conifer (Chameacyparis, Cedrus, Pinus and Cryptomeria to name a few)  in the south.  Of course, the  best gift is when you purchase and plant the tree for the recipient.  At the end of this column I have included a list of garden centers and nurseries in Georgia that offer a variety of choice plants for sale as well as other gift items mentioned here.  Bird houses, watering cans, garden sculptures, decorative containers, water gardens, bat houses, owl houses, tools, gardening books and gloves are just a few ideas. 

Chameacyparis obtusa 'Sunspray' with violas, thyme and sweet alyssum

  If you like the idea of giving a gift that also helps the community, there’s still time (until December 18) to purchase a tree to be planted in honor of someone special in your life.  For just $25.00 you can order a tree from Trees Atlanta (www.treesatlanta.org a membership is also an good gift idea ) that they will plant in a part of town or neighborhood  where they determine trees are needed. They will send  a holiday  card to the person you are honoring informing them of the gift.    A one-year membership to the Atlanta Botanical Garden (www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org)  is only $55.00 for individuals and $75.00 for a dual membership; which gives you unlimited admission for 12 months.  For me it’s a bargain  as I visit the garden at least  once every two weeks.   If you know someone that likes to visit private gardens, consider a membership with The Garden Conservancy www.gardenconservancy.org.   By joining you can “help ensure that America’s treasured gardens remain intact as part of our natural and cultural heritage.”  And, with a $50.00  membership you receive a copy of the Open Days Directory- a source for finding out about outstanding private gardens throughout the US,  and the days that they are open to the public (for a fee).  If you want to splurge for a magazine that is bound to inspire,  a gift subscription to the British publication Gardens Illustrated www.gardensillustrated.com  is $75.00 for 12 issues.  (It sounds like such a good idea that I just ordered a subscription for myself)  For the practical gardener, consider the American publication Fine Gardening at $29.99 for 6 issues (one year) www.finegardening.com,  a Taunton Press publication;  full of  ideas about garden design, noteworthy plants, and lots of other useful information.

Pinus bungeana bark

  What about a garden design consultation to be used toward a landscape plan.   If there’s a garden designer who’s work you admire contact them about a gift certificate.   A gift certificate for your favorite mail order nursery also makes a great gift.  

Sources

Call ahead for hours of operation.  Most of the nurseries listed also have websites.

Ashe-Simpson Garden Center, 4961 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30341

770-458-3224

GardenHood, 353 Boulevard SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

404-880-9848

 Habersham Gardens, 2067 Manchester St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

404-873-2484

 Land Arts Nursery, 809 North Broad St. (Hwy ll at 78), Monroe, GA 30656

770-267-4500

 McMahan’s Nursery ,5727 Cleveland Hwy., Clermont, GA 30527

770-983-3666

 Scottsdale Farms, 15639 Birmingham Hwy,(Hwy 372),Alpharetta, GA 30004

770-777-5875

Deciduous holly 'Sparkleberry' in container with parsley