Well, it’s the time of year again with just about two weeks to the big day. I need to get a move on and start buying Christmas presents for the family.
I hate to be the destroyer of dreams but at the same time I must take my duty as a responsible parent seriously.
So I’m going to take advantage of my position here to inform my kids that the pony, new puppy, Lamborghini and round the world trip won’t be happening this year.
Keeping the Christmas spirit alive
It’s getting a challenge though, trying to find something suitable for them these days, they’re no longer at the age when there’s endless crafts and construction toys to choose between for them.
They’re both getting to that age where they’d probably be happier with the money to pick their own presents but it’s just not the same. They need to have something to open on Christmas morning and keep the spirit alive.
I think we’re all in the same boat, some of our family and friends are easier to chose a gift for than others.
If you are struggling for a few ideas, I’d recommend a look around your local garden centre for Christmas inspiration.
It may be near the top end of your budget, but how about a compost bin? You can pick one up for anywhere between £50 and £300.
Winning with a compost bin
I know it’s nice and convenient to stick your veg peelings, food waste and all your other garden waste into your recycling bin for the local authority to take away, but in most areas this comes with an extra charge.
This is a good way of also saving a few pennies in the long run.
Plus, I know by composting we’re doing a good thing by avoiding this kind of material being put into land fill. There is still a negative impact on the environment with the truck driving around our streets. Composting helps us gardeners do our bit for the environment too.
Then of course the resulting compost can be returned to your soil, helping to nourish and keep the plants growing, making this a winner all round.
This past summer has highlighted the benefit of installing a water butt to harvest rainwater.
We’re getting plenty now, but back in the summer when we went weeks without rain. I know my water butt came in very handy for keeping my summer baskets, tubs and containers watered.
I think established plants prefer it too, especially any ericaceous plants like blueberries, camellias and heathers that prefer acidic conditions. Although never water seeds or young seedlings with rainwater due to the risk of fungal plant diseases.
A gardening experience as a gift
I’m going through a spell of enjoying giving and getting ‘experiences’ as a gift. There are plenty based around gardening.
First of all there’s like going on a garden visit with a friend or loved one. Better still, do two gardens on the same day. To help you choose, give a gift of Ken Cox’s book Scotland for Gardeners, that lists all our country’s garden centres, nurseries and gardens open for us to visit.
There’s a stocking filler idea for you too!
I’m enjoying seeing a surge in gardeners creating their own floral displays in the house, made from what’s growing in their garden or from flowers picked from the flower farms popping up in the area.
This also includes our Christmas wreaths, with many florists and gardens organising classes on how to design and make them.
The quality of Scotland’s gardens are known around the world. Not only have they been expertly laid out by designers past and present, but they also require the skills and knowledge to keep them at such high standards.
Learn from the best
The gardeners who do so have developed their craft over time, and during the course of the gardening year they are willing to share this through practical workshops.
Fruit experts demonstrate how best to prune apple, pear and plum trees so we can get the maximum amount of fruit. Pus they show us how to make them look stylish if they are trained as cordons and espaliers.
Kitchen gardeners teach us in the plots of large gardens how to grow veg at our modest plots at home. Winter workshops show how to master the art of shrub pruning to keep our shrubs and roses looking their best.
These are just some of the classes in beautiful gardens near us. A gift based on the garden, I can’t think of anything better.
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