Seven Holiday Gifts For Gardeners
1. "Plant Science for Gardeners" by Robert Pavlis. The expertise of many amateur gardeners tends to be a little sketchy when it comes to science. This book will solve that. BookPeople
2. A visit from a garden coach. Every gardener can benefit from guidance and encouragement from an expert. A perfect gift for the gardener in your family or friendship circle? Here are a few. —
Lori Dahl (general designer/arborist) $100 per hour; loridauldesign@gmail.com —
Austin Davenport (general garden consultation) $100 per hour:
(pictured above) austinrdavenport@gmail.com — Figbeard (fruit tree and edible perennial expert): $125 per hour 512-584-3886
3. Nature Sunprint Kit This is a fun way to bring the beauty of nature into the house. They are called cyanotype prints, and all you need is some of this special paper (sensitive to light in the ultraviolet and blue spectrum), and some sunshine. Sun Print Kit ($17)
4. Gift membership to a local gardening organization:
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5. Garden hose filter Remove chlorine and other undesirables from your tap water, and watch your garden flourish anew. The Clean Water Fun filter cleans 10,000 gallons. $40 at the Great Outdoors
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6. Natural Gardener gift card If you buy a gardening friend a $100 gift card, you will receive a $20 gift card of your own! This offer lasts until noon, Christmas eve. TNG
7. Hori Hori knife Carrying this Japanese soil knife will put a certain swagger in every gardener's walk ; - ) $75 from Barton Springs Nursery. (Find it in their Museum of Dirt.) Happy holidays gardeners! - DM ❦
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KALE & MUSTARD WOES: I recently saw Austin Garden reader (and supporter) Elizabeth Kubala at a gathering in Windsor Park, where she told me the sorry tale of her kale and mustard crop's descent from vigor and vitality one day, to struggling sickness the next. The villain? Caterpillars. Seasoned gardeners pick them off manually at first. If that doesn't work, it's time to reach for something stronger . . . like spinosad or Bt. And now over to expert Dan Gill (LSU)
NOLA.com ❦
From the It's About Thyme Nursery archives: Diane Winslow (right), known to some as 'the Martha Stewart of Manchaca,' with some of the talented participants of her annual bay laurel wreath-making workshop in 2005 (or thereabouts). ❦
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WINTER WREATHS GONE WILD: Gardenista reports on a new trend where grasses and weeds are incorporated in seasonal wreaths by floral artists such as Anna Potter.
“Overlooked tangled vines, weathered seed heads and grasses are so wonderful to weave with and can be combined to create unexpectedly ethereal sculptures," says Anna. Gardenista ❦
CROWN SHYNESS: There is a sense of mystery about this naturally occurring phenomenon, where on windy days, the tops of trees (crowns) try their best to avoid touching each other.
Biophilic Design,
wiki❦
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CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER: One of the hardest things for gardeners to learn is the art of layering for year-round flowers. Michelle and Louis Lay absolutely nailed it in their very new garden. CTG❦
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