Gardening Gift Ideas – Simplify Gardening

The season to be merry and to bless others is fast approaching. Whether you celebrate Christmas or participate in Xmas, there’s a reason why they call it the festive season. My best childhood memories seem to have generally happened in December - with food, family, friends, festivities, and fun. Getting giving right has always excited me. I suppose it’s why I’m so keen on helping others get their gardens right – I have some skills I got from my Grandfather, so I share them. My love language is giving gifts – it makes me come alive. So, I created this list of gift ideas for Xmas, and I’ve added some links to where you can get them. I hope you find what you would like to give someone. Work Surveillance Tools From planning to appreciation, you need a special vantage point to survey the work - done or to be done. These are very specialized tools upon which you can sit and consider. Add the required posture and a beverage, and you’re set for great things - wouldn’t you agree? I’m joking, of course, but there is a lot of truth in it too. Planning is central to every successful endeavor. The adage goes, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. A well-planned garden is a delight to appreciate and manage. And there is also value in appreciating what one has accomplished – or sharing the accomplishments of others. A sun-downer on a comfortable chair, looking over a well-cared-for garden, is one of life’s delights. So, here are my suggestions for work surveillance tools. Adirondack Chair This classic Adirondack chair with a cup holder is my favorite. It sits comfortably and can carry a whole 350 pounds, and is 22-inches wide for comfort. The ergonomic backrest and wide armrests offer the comfort expected of Adirondack chairs. And the oversized design offers freedom for any position. It’s made of polystyrene for exceptional durability and can withstand hot sun and cold without denting, cracking, or peeling, unlike chairs made of wood. It requires no staining or storing – available for use all the time without fading. Fade-Resistant Patio Bench One can move faster when alone, but you can stay in the race longer if you have a partner with you. So while the Adirondack chair is great, the bench is big enough for companionship. Measuring a whole 47.24 inches wide and with a weight capacity of 700 pounds, this piece would be a good gift. It’s super comfortable with a shaped base and a backrest at 105-degrees. Also, like the Adirondack chair, superior polystyrene (poly lumber) has strong water resistance and can withstand the worst weather –rain, snow, or scorchers. The poly lumber is not easy to scratch or damage. Rocking Chair This all-weather and maintenance-free poly lumber rocking chair provides 28.6-inches back support, 21-inches seating width for a comfortable ride. Relax and gain perspective of whatever needs your attention. Rocking chairs are rest horses. They’re made for contemplating, reviewing, and giving your attention to things that don’t need words. It reminds me of the story of two older men sitting on the porch, each in a rocking chair. Every 5-minutes or so, the one would grunt; 5-minutes later, the other would grunt. A new neighbor moved in and came to visit the old gentlemen. Again, the old chaps would alternate their grunts. Eventually, the newcomer added, “well, yes.” When the new neighbor eventually left, the one old chap turned to the other; “he seems like a nice guy, what do you think?” “Yes – I just think he talks too much,” came the reply. Books to Expand Your Scope of Gardening Knowledge Reading remains one of life’s privileges and pleasures. A privilege – because time is increasing at a premium and having time to read a book is almost a luxury. A pleasure – because it allows you to lose yourself in the mind of another. We have partnered with Chelsea Green Publishing who has focussed on producing environmental books since 1985. Below we repost their review of three books for our enlightenment. The Living Soil Handbook Garden Amendments Breed your Own Vegetable Varieties Living Soil Handbook Discovering how to meet the soil’s needs is the key task for every market gardener. In this comprehensive guide, Farmer Jesse Frost shares all he has learned through experience and experimentation with no-till practices on his home farm in Kentucky and from interviews and visits with highly successful market gardeners in his role as host of The No-Till Market Garden Podcast. The Living Soil Handbook is centered around the three basic principles of no-till market gardening: Disturb the soil as little as possibleKeep it covered as much as possibleKeep it planted as much as possible. Farmer Jesse then guides readers in applying those principles to their own garden environment, with their own materials, to meet their own goals. Beginning with an exploration of the importance of photosynthesis to living soil, Jesse provides in-depth information on: Turning over bedsUsing compost and mulchPath managementIncorporating biology, maintaining fertilityCover croppingDiversifying plantings through intercroppingProduction methods for seven major crops Throughout, the book emphasizes practical information on all the best tools and practices for growers who want to build their livelihood by maximizing their soil’s health. Farmer Jesse reminds growers that “as possible” is the mantra for protecting the living soil: disturb the soil as little as you possibly can in your context. He does not believe that growers should anguish over what does and does not qualify as “no-till.” If you are using a tool to promote soil life and biology, that’s the goal. Jesse’s goal with The Living Soil Handbook is to provide a comprehensive set of options, materials, and field-tested practices to inspire growers to design a soil-nurturing no-till system in their unique garden or farm ecosystem. The Regenerative Grower’s Guide to Garden Amendments In The Regenerative Grower’s Guide to Garden Amendments, experimental gardener and author Nigel Palmer provide practical, detailed instructions accessible to every grower who wants to achieve a truly sustainable garden ecosystem while enjoying better results at a fraction of the cost of commercial fertilizer products. These recipes go beyond fertilizer replacement, resulting in greater soil biological activity and mineral availability. They also increase pest and disease resistance, yields, and nutrient density. Recipes include: Extracting nutrients from plant residues using simple rainwater techniquesExtracting minerals from bones and shells using vinegarFermenting plant juices and fishCulturing indigenous microorganisms (IMO) Inspired by the work of many innovative traditional agricultural pioneers, especially Cho Ju-Young (founder of the Korean Natural Farming method), The Regenerative Grower’s Guide to Garden Amendments also includes a primer on plant-soil interaction, instructions for conducting a soil test, and guidance on compost, cover cropping, mulching, measuring the quality of fruits and vegetables using a refractometer, and other aspects of sustainable gardening—making it a must-have resource for any serious grower. Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties All gardeners and farmers should be plant breeders, says author Carol Deppe. Developing new vegetable varieties doesn’t require specialized education, a lot of lands, or even a lot of time. It can be done on any scale. It’s enjoyable. It’s deeply rewarding. You can get useful new varieties much faster than you might suppose. And you can eat your mistakes. Authoritative and easy-to-understand, Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: The Gardener’s and Farmer’s Guide to Plant Breeding and Seed Saving is the only guide to plant breeding and seed saving for the serious home gardener and the small-scale farmer or commercial grower. Discover: how to breed for a wide range of different traits (flavor, size, shape, or color; cold or heat tolerance; pest and disease resistance; and regional adaptation)how to save seed and maintain varietieshow to conduct your own variety trials and other farm- or garden-based researchhow to breed for performance under organic or sustainable growing methods In this one-size-fits-all world of multinational seed companies, plant patents, and biotech monopolies, more and more gardeners and farmers are recognizing that they need to “take back their seeds.” They need to save more of their own seed, grow and maintain the best traditional and regional varieties, and develop more of their own unique new varieties. Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties: The Gardener’s and Farmer’s Guide to Plant Breeding and Seed Saving shows the way and offers an exciting introduction to a whole new gardening adventure. Prune Your Way to Polific Production The goal of pruning is to generate plants that are robust, healthy, and appealing. If you understand the how, when, and why of pruning, success is at hand. Just add to that some simple guidelines, and great outcomes will be yours. We prune ornamental and shade trees for different purposes, including safety, health, and aesthetics. Pruning can also be used to boost the value of timber and stimulate fruit production. Pruning for safety requires you to remove branches deemed a risk and are likely to fall and cause damage to persons, animals, or property; branches that block your view to potential hazards on streets or driveways; or branches that may interfere with utility wires. Pruning for health entails removing sick or insect-infested wood, thinning the crown to improve airflow and reduce pest problems, and pruning outcrossing and rubbing branches. Pruning is most effective in encouraging trees to have a solid structure and reducing the risk of damage during severe weather. Removing broken or damaged limbs help wounds heal faster. Enhancing the natural form and character of trees or promoting floral output are two examples of aesthetic pruning. On oven-grown trees that don’t self-prune, form pruning is essential. All woody plants shed their branches as a result of limited sunlight or storm damage. Branches that don’t create enough carbohydrates from photosynthesis to maintain themselves eventually die and are shed; woundwood seals the ensuing wounds (callus). Wind and accumulation of snow and ice can break poor affixed branches. Natural forces frequently remove branches, leaving massive, jagged scars that rarely heal. Use pruning to enhance nature’s processes to increase plant strength and longevity. Trees come in various shapes and sizes, but the most frequent are pyramidal (excurrent) and spherical (decurrent). Most conifers, for example, have a strong core stem and lateral branches that are more or less horizontal and do not struggle for dominance with the central stem. Many lateral branches strive for their spot of sunlight in trees with spherical crowns, such as most hardwoods. Fruit Tree Pruning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0mkdBSeBoc Take a look at our suggested tools above for gifts to pruners - they are uncommon and brilliant. Grounded in Greatness Since I was a little boy, seeds have fascinated me. A comparatively small (comparative to the final plant it becomes) spherical unit that, given the right environment and ingredients, burst forth into life. Amazing. And the final product cannot be imaged by looking at the seed. Built into that seed is greatness ready to explode. Put in the right environment, and a chain reaction starts, absorbing water, nutrients, and light - growing, growing, growing. Here are some possible gifts to help that process flourish. Eighty Gallons of Raw Potential I know. The picture looks itsy-bitsy, but that is an 80-gallon composting system ready to turn kitchen and garden waste into a life-given, water-holding potential releaser. If you’re new to composting, this article of mine will help you get off to a good start. Essentially we need organic material (a mix of both green and brown), air, and water – all in the right amounts. This composter has twelve air vents on each side (48 in total), allowing air circulation for absorbing oxygen for high fermentation efficiency. The snap-on lid keeps pesky critters away from your food scraps. The 80-gallon capacity with top and bottom access allows you to tier your greens and brown and extract the completed compost from the bottom once the fermentation is complete. My Thinking Space The value of alone time, in my opinion, is generally under-appreciated. Having a space or place where you can be alone with your thoughts, ask the dog (Gracey) for advice, bounce ideas off her, and then laugh at her frown (which you’re free to interpret). Personally, I like doing that at my potting table. It’s my thinking space, my me-time place. For those of us that like order, a good potting table is a must. It must have storage, a bin, a rack, and a place to hang stuff – intelligent design. Sound familiar? The Outsunny 48” Garden Wooden Potting Bench Table is a beauty. Fitted with: a metal screena draining areaside hooksa draweran open lower and upper shelvesa sliding galvanized cover This potting bench has a rustic and simple appearance that will greatly compliment your already beautiful garden. It will make an ideal addition to your patio, garden, backyard, and tunnel. The sliding galvanized metal panel covers the sieve giving you ample working space. You can use the pull-out metal screen (sieve) under the panel to easily screen sand or potting mediums. The convenient drain hole makes it simple to drain water off when watering your plated pots. You can use the small shelf on the top of the worktable to store small tools and small potted plants. The bottom shelf provides sufficient space to place extra dirt, pots, and tools while the practical drawer will provide easy access to tools You can use the work bench’s lattice back panel as decoration for this potting bench or as a place to hang stuff, even LED lights. It’s big - 47.25-inches long, 16.5-inches wide, and 5-foot high and can take 220-pounds on the countertop. The bottom shelf can hold 66-pounds comfortably. Flat Out Fun You can use our third Grounded for Greatness gift suggestion in all kinds of ways, even for rolling a giant ball of dough for your biggest pastry world-record attempt – not. Actually, by filling the roller with water (15.9-gallons weighs 133.56-pounds), you could have a weighted roller for your lawn for striping. Or you can make it less heavy and use it on large seedbeds. It’s designed to be pushed or towed, allowing versatility for rolling both tight areas and open spaces! This makes it great for just about anywhere, from freshly sowed lawns to uneven patches caused by frost and moles. The U-shaped handle is comfortable for pulling and pushing the roller. The lawn roller has a green painted smooth surface resistant to rust and easily detaches into three pieces for storage. The sod roller is constructed of a high-quality steel frame and is spray-treated to prevent rust. Furthermore, the manufacturers rounded the edges for better results ensuring your lawn remains unharmed. Fitted to the side of the roller is a drain plug that allows you to add 15.9 gallons (60 liters) of water or sand for a max weight of 202.2 lbs. You, therefore, have full control of how heavy (or light) you want the roller to be. The roller is 19.75-inches wide – ideal for an 18 to 20-inch mower (if you want stripes). Doing a Lot with a Little While thinking outside of the proverbial box can be challenging, it often produces interesting results. Hydroponics, and all the related industries, have demonstrated how innovative thinking can affect a sector. Probably the leaders in innovative agriculture are the Dutch. With very limited ground area, their only solution was to squeeze as much out of limited space. The gifts ideas below may lead the receiver on a whole new journey of productivity and fun. Our partner, Bootstrap Farming, has various technologies, tools and teaching to help us along. Growing in Dutch Buckets Seedlings and cuttings are commonly rooted in Coco Peat Pellets and Rockwool Starter Plugs after being propagated in Peat Pellets. The young plants are put into the Dutch Bucket system after their roots have emerged, where they will grow quickly. Dutch Buckets are the ideal hydroponic solution for any horticulture trying to maximize their growing area. Whether growing in a grow tent with a few buckets or in greenhouses with rows and rows of buckets, their simplicity and ease of use stay the same. The Dutch Bucket’s siphon elbow has a specific design to maintain the right amount of nutrient solution and drainage flow within the bucket. The very specific design of the Dutch Bucket’s siphon elbow and its ability to maintain just the right amount of nutrient solution and drainage flow within the bucket. Although there are several internet guidelines and articles on making your own, none have seen the results that may be accomplished utilizing the original Dutch Bato Bucket design. INCLUDES: Bato BucketBato Bucket Lid2 Elbows1 Large Net Pot (3-inch)4 Small Net Pots (2-inch) Dutch buckets, also known as bato buckets, are perfect space-saving hydroponics systems ideal for various plants. One of the greatest advantages of growing in dutch buckets is the reservoir at the bottom of the bucket. This serves as a sort of ‘lifeline’ for the plant and enables. Even if the power goes out, the reservoir has extra nutrient solutions stored to help keep plants alive. Dutch buckets also make it easy to extend your current system, whereas you can use one drainage line and one watering line for the entire length of your system. The buckets also easily inter-connect - what makes Dutch Buckets unique is the ability to hold the growing media and the nutrient solution. Growing with Growing Bags The benefits of gardening in grow bags are apparent, whether you want to cultivate nutritious fruits and veggies or add brilliant color with annual flowers. Grow bags, which have been increasingly popular in recent years, are an excellent asset for those growing in small or less-than-ideal settings. Grow bags provide gardeners with a quick and easy approach to establish lush, healthy landscapes, in addition to their versatility. Growing Microgreens from Scratch Microgreens are nutrient-dense as well as flavorful, making them an excellent addition to a variety of recipes. To achieve the same level of flavor and nutrition, you don’t need as much volume. This saves calories and saves a lot of counter space when growing these tasty little plants. You’ll be shocked at how much green food you can produce, given how little space they take and how quickly these tiny plants develop. Consider how much money you’ll save at the supermarket if you can grow most of the vegetables and greens your family requires at home — on your kitchen window sills. Not to mention that you won’t have to go shopping for fresh food every few days. Simply take a pair of scissors and cut what you require for lunch or dinner. When it comes to growing your own greens, one of the biggest advantages is that you can select and consume them straight away. This keeps the greatest nutrients, regardless of when you harvest your greens, but it’s especially helpful with microgreens. You’ve probably heard of these vegetable powerhouses and may have even grabbed them on occasion. Shades of Pink Exquisite, intricate Hydrangea blooms represent abundance and grace and make very meaningful wedding bouquets! All the tiny flowers work together to make a big, beautiful splash that looks great in photographs. Hydrangeas make elegant cut flower arrangements, too. You’ll have a lavish look with just a few blooms! The Hydrangea species originated in Asia and in some locations in North and South America. There are over one hundred varieties of Hydrangea species. Yes, there are many types of Hydrangeas...but all are lovely! We sell Hydrangea varieties that will do well in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9. Grateful Red Hydrangea Grateful Red Hydrangeas Grateful Red Hydrangea is Not Available in Stores! Totally Unique Red Flowers Easy to Grow Only Available Online! Nature Hills is proud to present this beautiful RED hydrangea! Grateful Red® Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'McKRed') is an introduction from Wisconsin's McKay Nursery. It has all of the characteristics of your favorite garden hydrangeas - big leaves and even bigger blooms coming all summer long. It will even bloom well in partial shade. With alkaline soils, the flowers are a deep pink verging on red that is unlike any other hydrangea on the market. As autumn approaches the flowers to turn a velvety lavender color that is eye-catching with the purple tint of the leaves. In acidic soils, the flower will be of a darker purple color. The Grateful Red® Hydrangea will be the star of the sunnier or part shade area in your yard. Plant it where you can enjoy its unique coloration often as you walk by it. Make sure that you can reach it to cut the red blooms, too, because it will provide you with armfuls of flowers for your vases all season. The unique red flowers will blend well with white, blues, and yellows in your landscape. This plant will receive a lot of attention and makes a perfect focal point. Grateful Red is very brilliantly colored red in regular neutral pH and at a lower pH, you will get lavender flowers. They bloom on new wood and usually most all stems have a flower which is the amazing thing about this plant. The east side of a home is the absolute best... protection from afternoon heat but even in full sun as long as you keep it watered it will do beautifully in most parts of the country! First Editions® Vanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangeas Super Showy Blooms First Editions® Vanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea Multi-Colored, Cone-Shaped Blooms Last a Long TimeColor Changes from Creamy White to Bright Pink to Strawberry RedAmazing Cut FlowersGrows in Sun or Partial ShadeAttracts ButterfliesYear-Round InterestPerfect Size for a HedgeCold Hardy Try a miraculous First Editions® Vanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea in your landscape. You'll be so pleased with its playful, strawberry-pink blooms and graceful nature. You'll want more than one! These First Editions plants are nothing short of spectacular. The show begins in spring with green leaves filling out the stems that later turn a lovely red shade. Mid-summer brings on a fabulous display of full blooms. Watch as your flowers do a color change during the season for you. The large panicles - comprised of densely clustered, tiny flowers - begin creamy white in mid-summer and slowly turn pink. The white flowers pick up pink color as the blooms age, and it is intensified with cooler nights and warm days in sunnier locations. As summer progresses, you'll be treated to a mixture of floral color on the same plant as white turns to white with pink centers. . .to deeper strawberry red. Fantastic! Cut some of the stunning Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea blooms to enjoy indoors, or leave on your plant for winter. The flowers will cling to the stems (drying to a pale, silvery tan), and persist as a decorative feature through the winter months. Annabella Hydrangea Annabella Hydrangeas Long Season of Beautiful Blooms Annabelle Hydrangea Huge White Flower HeadsBloom Last through Summer, Fall and WinterVery Dependable PerformanceCut and Dried Flowers Make Incredible Indoor DecorationsSophisticated ClassicEasy to GrowAdaptable, No Need to Fuss with Soil pHSun or Partial ShadePrune Once in Early Spring This outstanding ornamental shrub effortlessly elevates the tone of your landscape. Annabelle Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle') makes a showy display of pristine, white, enormous mophead flowers. Plant them near a high traffic area. You won't want to miss a moment of this plant's spectacular blooms. Annabelle Hydrangea was discovered in 1910 and remains one of the most popular landscape plants grown, with good reason. It can be grown over a wide range of hardiness zones, is easy and carefree, and produces the most incredible flower heads of sterile florets that can be a foot across. The flower display is really the best. Massive, white, round balls are held above the foliage and are showy from summer into winter. Annabelle Hydrangea is a star in every landscape. Fresh new green stems will produce massive flowers by June. Enjoy the flowers in the landscape on the plant and steal some blooms as needed throughout the summer for bouquets. This is a dependable, proven performer that delivers spectacular blooms every single year. Dark-green foliage and sturdy stems are the perfect contrast for the pristine white flowers. Annabelle Hydrangea begins to create its stunning blooms in June and continues to be showy until it gets buried in snow. You'll be thrilled by the dazzling display of elegant flowers throughout most of the year. Fabulous Footwear Being barefoot is the occasional occurrence – for most of our lives, footwear matters—a lot. So we are glad to have partnered with The Orginal Muck Boot Company to bring these garden styles – an excellent choice for a gift. Original Duck Lace Boots Women's Orginal Duck Lace Boot Inspired by our iconic Chore Boot, Muck Originals is a collection of light-duty yet essential footwear built for everyday use. The Leather Originals feature a durable rubber shell with a full-grain waterproof leather upper and hand-laid rubber for flexibility, comfortable, 100% waterproof protection. 100% Waterproof Men's Duck Lace Boot Lace-up Construction for a Tailored FitRugged Full-Grain Leather Upper for Durable Waterproof PerformanceRemovable Contour Molded Footbed with Memory Foam for Long Lasting CushioningbioDEWIX™ Footbed Topcover with NZYM™ for Odor Control and Moisture ManagementRubber Outsole with innovative lug design provides traction while quickly releasing mud and other debris Women’s Muckster Flat Taking the superior comfort and style of the Muckster II Collection into a new silhouette, this sporty women’s flat keeps you cool and comfortable all season long. 100% waterproof, flexible, and lightweight with a durable rubber outsole for great traction and all-day comfort. 100% WaterproofOnline ExclusiveHalf sizes availableNeoprene Flat with Rubber Overlays for Comfort, Breathability, and Durability Where You Need It MostSelf Cleaning Rubber Outsole Built for the Lawn and GardenWeight: 0.57 lbs size 7 Foundations for Making a House a Home Plants have the unique ability of changes the atmosphere of an environment. It has always intrigued me the distinct difference plants make to a home. Plants bring health and vibrancy to a home, and like animals, house plants are the first to pick up if something is amiss. I’m not a spooky type of guy, but there is more to life than we commonly acknowledge. We have selected three sets of pots as potential new homes for a friend’s plants – a gift you could give. With our friends at Sunnydaze Décor, we have selected what we like. Take a look; maybe you can find that ideal gift. Sheild the roots of your plants from the elements with this UV-resistant, double-walled planter. The rust finish and swirling vine design provide an elegant appearance contrasting with the delicate flowers it protects. Encounters with children or pets will leave both unharmed due to the soft, smooth polyresin material making these large garden planter pots perfect both inside and outside the home. Beautiful, elegant, and versatile, these decorative planters are designed to compete with your cherished flowers and greenery for attention. The natural charm and characteristics of clay remain in our lighter, more durable fiber clay product. Suitable all around the home, you choose where you want to show off or privately enjoy. Arabelle Swirling Vines Planter Arabella Outdoor Pot Planter Homestead Fiber Clay Planter 'Cause Mamma Said Less Is More And breaking from the predictable, here are some gifts you could make to a friend or loved one that have the beauty of nature without the responsibility of having coaxing them along. These beautiful prints, we only selected three for display, are understated simplicity with whispered elegance. Pretty, playful and trendy, Urban Garden Design Co. art prints will make you smile as they bring character to your walls. Each print is artistically designed then professionally printed on acid-free and heavy-weight paper using archival inks. The quality and beauty of these fine art prints will not disappoint. Sure to be a statement in any room, you can define your home with fabulous urban style art prints at great prices! These prints go well with other art from our collection of pressed botanicals, vintage illustrations, stunning photographs, and modern designs. Minimalist Print Hydrangea Print Butterfly Split Print A Legacy Gift Some gifts can last for a hundred years – like a parrot – and a tree. While a parrot is entertaining, I would not be impressed with it as a gift (in fact, I would not accept it). A tree speaks of future potential and decades of fun. Often planted as milestones in a person’s or organization’s journey, trees are immovable landmarks, with life happening around them. So we decided to include some trees for you to choose from Nature Hills Nursery. We hope you love our choices. Ginkgo Biloba Ginkgo Biloba Tree Lovely Fall Color, Indestructible Ginkgo Trees Fascinating Historical TreeUnique Fan-Shaped LeavesBeautiful Fall ColorShowy Display as Leaves Fall to the GroundGrows in a Wide Range of SoilsResistant to Pests, Disease, Pollution and Wind The Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) is also called the Maidenhair tree because it resembles Maidenhair ferns. It is truly unique and has no close living relatives. It’s also one of the oldest living types of trees. Botanical gardens around the world feature this beautiful “living fossil.” You’ll be proud to own one. Yes, this is the tree used in Ginkgo biloba supplements to improve memory, symptoms of dementia, and blood flow. Specimens are reported to exist around China that is over 1800 years old. Bet you didn’t know how pretty it is! Once established, the Gingko requires little maintenance or pruning. Typically it has a lovely canopy that grows with perfect balance. In autumn, the beautiful leaves turn a brilliant, saturated yellow. This is one of the most favored and popular characteristics of the Ginkgo tree. They simply glow in the landscape and make a heart-catching addition to the season. Norway Spruce Norway Spruce Tree Strong and Attractive Norway Spruce Tree Large Scale ConiferHardy & Easy-CareDeer ResistantLarge, Impressive SpecimenWild Bird InterestGraceful StrengthMagnificent Wind BreakTolerant & ResilientBoughs For Floral DesignHistorical Uses For a graceful accent in your yard or a rugged member of an effective windbreak, try Norway Spruce (Picea abies). Perfect for use in cold weather zones, this superior choice of evergreen makes an easy-care accent in the landscape. This evergreen conifer has a characteristic pyramidal outline with a beautiful, noteworthy feature. Upright main branches are liberally covered with pendulous secondary branches that have a touch of pleasing “droop” to them. The overall look is one of graceful strength. Norway Spruce trees will grow fast (up to 2 feet a year) and provide a large, attractive evergreen presence in your yard. Wild songbirds will appreciate the cover and a food source. This is a long-lived, elegant, and hardy tree with a graceful form. Norway Spruce will provide you with beauty and interest. Weeping Willow Weeping Willow Tree Fall in Love with A Romantic Weeping Willow Tree Instantly RecognizableRomantic, Ground Sweeping BranchesFast GrowingAdaptableHeat and Cold HardySage-Green, Soft HuesDelicate, Lacy TextureAdds Motion & Sound To The Landscape!Water LovingVital For Wildlife Everyone loves the familiar Weeping Willow tree (Salix babylonica). Its graceful, ground-sweeping branches add so much movement to your landscape. Best known for its rounded, romantic appearance with long sweeping branches, the Weeping Willow has so much to offer. Spring comes early when you have a Weeping Willow; it’s one of the first trees to leaf out early in the spring with incredibly fresh, bright green leaves. You will love its narrow, sage green leaves swaying in the breeze through the summer. The flexible branches grow up and out, dramatically arching up, then growing down to the trail on the ground. In the fall, you will be delighted by how its golden yellow leaves develop intense fall color, as well. If you are lucky enough to live on the water, you have an excellent soil type for a Weeping Willow. They’ll thrive when planted near a water source. The reflection of a willow tree in water is just as pretty as a picture. There is no such thing as too much water for a Weeping Willow tree. If you have a spot in your yard with moist soil that stays wet or collects water, the Weeping Willow will help dry it right up. Weeping Willows can adapt to drier soils as well. While it loves water, the Weeping Willow tree adapts well in many soil conditions, including some drought tolerance. Not many trees can handle that extreme, from very wet to dry. It is also one of the fastest-growing shade trees, with a growth rate of 8-10 feet a year. It will quickly reach its mature height and develop into one of your favorite plants. Summary We hope this article provided a balance between advice and ideas for Xmas. Remember, nothing beats authenticity when giving a gift. The two seem interlinked, the heart and the giving hand. Sometimes a silent hug can speak louder than any possible gift. It all boils down to the person, the relationship, and the intent. With this article on giving we want to wish you the best success in life, in love, and in your garden. If you enjoyed this article and want to get notified of new posts and offers, you can use the short form below to do that.