If you are like Bobby and me, you have some gardeners on your holiday gift list. If you've been dragging your feet and still need something to buy for them, expert advice is easy to find.
We asked our friends at Bachman's, Tonkadale Greenhouse, and the U of M Landscape Arboretum to send us all some of their favorite items.
Bachman's: Amazing garden tools
DeWit Garden Tools - Strong, yet lightweight, these wooden-handled, Dutch-made tools offer unrivaled quality and durability to help both beginner and expert gardeners plant and care for their landscape year after year. $27.99 – 49.99
Garden Shears Set - This rustic trio of carbon steel shears is the perfect gift at the perfect price point! A throwback to tools from decades gone by, their stylish look is totally Insta-worthy and exactly what trendy plant parents will love showing off alongside fresh flowers and foliage. $14.99
Tonkadale Greenhouse: Vintage planters and plants
Indoor plants in vintage planters are awesome. Last July, I started curating a large selection of vintage planters. We are calling them “Found Items”. The two planters we sent are by McCoy, which is likely the most popular brand of vintage pots. In the green pot is pilea peperomioides, while the yellow one holds Peperomia ‘Hope’.
All selections are one of a kind, made in the USA in the early to middle part of the 20th century, and in good condition. There are plenty of great colors and fun shapes. Make sure when giving live plants as gifts to wrap them for the outdoors. Plastic or paper works great, but a double layer is recommended for days below 10 degrees.
Gardener’s Grab bag – a selection of must have items for any gardener, in the new Tonkadale tote!
Tonkadale Gift Card (in the jute tote) - The greenhouse is running a gift card promotion, just like everyone else, but here it goes! Buy a $100.00 gift card, and receive a gift card for an additional $20.00 free. They can be purchased in-store only.
The Landscape Arboretum
Native plants book - Arboretum Director of Operations Alan Branhagen has written the definitive book about native plants – "Native Plants of the Midwest - A Comprehensive Guide to the Best 500 Species for the Garden." It’s a must-have reference for anyone interested in native plants. $45 hardcover; a paperback will come out in June.
Wind chime - The perfect stocking stuffer, this petite wind chime featuring a stone will be a hit. Each kind of stone is described on the packaging. $24.95
Richard Aasness wood products - Local woodworker Richard Aasness crafts gorgeous bowls and pieces that show off the natural grain in these Minnesota woods. Ash bowl $55, acorn $121. Hand-crafted for the Arboretum.
Zen puzzles - Beautifully crafted heirloom quality wooden jigsaw puzzles made from sustainably harvested birch are quite the collectible. There are lots of twists and tricks in these puzzles, creating memories for friends and family, From bee hives to Cardinals. $54.95
Peruvian carved gourds - From the tiny Andean village of Cochas, these gourd carvings have been practiced for centuries. A Fair Trade product. Bees, mushrooms, flowers and many more gardener-friendly designs: $13.95 and up.
Arboretum Honey - This tiny honey bear contains 2 ounces of honey from the Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center hives. What a great stocking stuffer! $4.95
Of course membership is also an amazing gift that really continues to give all year long. If you want more information click here.
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