Chia Pet Avoidance - A Holiday Gift Guide Part 1

A Trug of Waxed Jute and Twine makes a great gift.

I will go out on a limb, assume something.... if you regularly read my blog, you are not an ordinary gardener. We more-extreme plant collectors frankly are quire misunderstood by many people. especially by those who are close to us.
Non gardeners need some help in gifting, so read this along to your loved one or friend, to give them a hint. Otherwise, be prepared for the mass market solutions for gardeners, which most likely will be something that you don't love, or need.

Good gifting requires some effort. Gifts should be thoughtful, meaningful to the recipient, not simple random act of "He like flowers.....let's get him some flower pots". It's not about the price, for even a ten dollar gift certificate to a rare seed company can mean at least two hours with a catalog on a snowy night.

Here are some things I've found which might be nice. I am avoiding socially responsible gifts, voluteering, "save the rare Primula" stuff for another time, this post is all about "getting something". In case you need some help in guiding others, or, as in my case, in making a wish list for New Years', on what you want to get for yourself.



1. The "Decent Label Maker" kit.

About $150.00 US

This you willl have to assemble yourself. Aesthetics are important to me, as they must be to you - in case you we're wondering where I get my black labels from in many of the photos on this blog, here is my source. They come from England, from The Essentials Company, their web site is a terrific source for many types of plant lables, but since I like the Black ones, this is THE source. I use five types, the thick plastic black formed ones for hand writing in white paint ( get the white Paint Marker's at your local craft store, in the USA I get mine at Michael's, they are too expensive and easy to buy at craft and art stores, than importing them from this site). You may have noticed my new plant labels, that I make with the Brother P touch. I have to buy the black tape with white letters on-line, since Staples or Office Max does not carry them in their store, but they ship quickly. Just be sure to order at least four packs to save on shipping, and to cover the fact that you will need a lot. I use the black Scratch lablels from essentials, which we're designed for "scratching in" with a scribe, the name of a plant. This feature never works right, but I like these labels because they are shaped better, with square trimmed edged, which pair nicely with the Black Waterproof P-Touch tape. The kit should include at least 100 black labels around 10 US dollars,( I order 1000), and the Brother P-Touch, simple enough.



2. Authentic Waxed Twine - Get into Nutscene

It's just not Christmas without a Giant Spool of Jute. It's the simple things, really. There are a number of sources on-line for waxed twine, but surprisingly, it is difficult to find in retail stores, or home centers. The most well known is the brand Nutscene, which comes in a very attractive vintage looking can.
There are also vintage bobbins with waxed twines, which are very nice, as well as numerous sources for Japanese Black Waxed Twine, which is used often for assembling Bamboo fences. There is nothing better than waxed twine, in a world of unwaxed twine, and you know it. I needn't say more. It's the best, and a real treat. The British website The Country Gardener carries all of these which I mentioned, but the Nutscene brand can be found at some sources in North America, just Google it. From the Nutscene website, find awesome gifts like the Tin of Twine, the spools, or even the Giant Spool of Jute, I mean, who wouldn't want this!

Guy Wolff's Peabody Pot, based off of an historic 19th C. design.

3. A Hand Made Horticultural Pot

Many of you are familiar with the Connecticut Potter, Guy Wolff, and his talented son, Ben Wolff. These two are genuinely nice guys, and as down to earth as thieir medium. Even though I am a potter, a pot from either of these artisans is a real gift for many reasons. First, socially, Guy's some of Guys' pots are made at the Guy Wolff Guild a wonderful way for artisans to create authentic works of art overseas or in places where their is pottery talent, but no other way to use it because of either oppression, or poverty. As an artist myself, the idea of Guilds is brilliant, everyone benefits, so if you read on some blogs that 'Guy Wolff has sold out..blah, blah, blah, this is not the case. One can still purchase original pieces, hand thrown by Mr. Wolff in his Connecticut studio, or one from Guy Wolff and Co., made by one of his guild artisans, still, hand made. One can now purchase more inexpensive molded pieces, which I particularly like, from his Greenhouse Pot LIne, but any way you buy one, these are incredible pots, In a world where billions of Terra Cotta pots are manufactured in Chine, and Italy in machines, these pots are treasures. They are based off of vintage or historic horticultural pottery, found either in museums, or even from paintings, such as the Bartram Pots. He offers many lines, all influenced from different sources. Some day I will buy one of his original salt glaze jugs, which if any of you want to buy me, feel free to!

Ben Wolff, his son, is equally talented. HIs site offers a different selection, check out his YouTube video here.


A Vivarium, in the Netherlands - a micro-eco-system
4. A Vivarium

OK, these we're new for me too, but if you are looking for something really different, what about one of these "enclosed environments" where one can keep tropical plants and, let's say Tree Frogs from Brazil? This Dutch site on Viviariums might inspire you to consider this unusual gift, for that special person, for, indeed, this would have to be for a special person since it requires some care, and commitment. Imagine the orchids, the ferns, the chirping tree frogs.....Perfect for the apartment dweller who is depressed with SAD.



5. The Gift of John Innes
$350.00 and up
Nothing says Merry Xmas like a soil sterilizer, I say. But for those of us who do not live in the UK, wouldn't it be nice to actually use one of the infamous John Innes Composts, which appear omnipresently in most every gardening book? OK, this is a little extreme, but it is do-able. All you would need, is this steam soil sterilizer, where you could bake your loam, and then order a few yards of the other various materials such as sand, greensand, peat, etc, to make one of the many classic John Innes Mixes, either for Alpines, or seeds, or trees and shrubs. Sure, this is definately 'out there' but if someone has a greenhouse, and they grow rare or unusual plants, I am certain that this would not only surprise them, it would be a gift well used. Besides, it might help you avoid ugly arguments about the smell of earthworms and pill bugs in topsoil, as it roasts in a copper All-Clad roasting pan during the holidays - I'm just saying.

I hope someday they name a soil after me.