There is no shortage of trowels, hoses and birdhouses out there just waiting to be wrapped up for your favorite gardener. Following is a varied selection of gift ideas, from simple to splurge, and practical to indulgent.
Pruning protection
Covering the whole forearm, these handsome gloves from Gardener's Supply Co. will let a gardener dive into a thorny rosebush or other scratchy shrub. And since the Miracle Fiber rose gloves are synthetic, they can be machine-washed and dried without stiffening. $44.95, gardeners.com
Jeffersonian rain gauge
From Conant's Vermont Collection comes a striking float-and-lever rain gauge inspired by the mechanical inventions of Thomas Jefferson. As rain fills a glass vial, the float rises, and a pointer registers the rainfall amount. Made of solid brass, stainless steel, glass and wood, it stands 42 inches high and 12 ½ inches wide. $154.99, conantcollections.com
Twist and turn
Nothing could bring more style to turning the compost than the handmade aerator from Kaufmann Mercantile, created by a retired forester in Canada. Crank the hardwood handle to twist the steel coil down into the pile; then pull it out to mix the ingredients and let in oxygen to speed decomposition. Store the tool indoors. Handmade Steel Compost Aerator, $49. kaufmann-mercantile.com
Spring chickens
Every gardener needs waterproof boots, and these, from Sloggers, will put a spring in your step. Cheerful chickens bustle all over this bright yellow pair, which also have more practical features such as traction and a removable insole. Daffodil Yellow Chicken Print boots, $39.99, sloggers.com
Nature's music
The slightest breeze will provide tinkling music from this wind chime, crafted from the curling dried leaf frond of an Indonesian coconut tree. The Bent Leaf Frond wind chime from Uncommon Goods is best hung under a covered porch to protect it from the weather. $30, uncommongoods.com
Zen garden
Luludi Living Art has taken the idea of a small, traditional Zen garden and expanded it by adding an air plant (Tillandsia), which requires little maintenance — no direct sun and a quick spritz of water each week. Each mini-garden creates a portable oasis for the home or office. There are several Zen garden designs that can be tailored to a person's preferences. Priced from $40 to $65. luludi.net
Heated hoodie
Odious tasks such as working in the yard or shoveling snow are often made worse by the bulky clothes one must wear. Craftsman's 12-volt heated hoodie gets around that problem. It's comfortable and warm — and when the weather gets really cold, just turn on the heat. There are four temperature settings (low, medium, high and max) and four heat zones (left and right chest, back and neck). It features an elastic waist, cuffs and a soft lining, too. $179.99 (including the battery and charger). craftsman.com, sears.com
Songbird station
Birds need to drink even in the winter. The simple lines of the 13-inch-tall Orlandi Statuary Ladom Birdbath will fit into any garden, whether it's sleekly modern, down-to-earth or formal and traditional. The birdbath is made of fiberglass, so it's lightweight and won't crack in cold weather, but it has sand and gravel cast into the finish for a natural look. $88.99, wayfair.com
Beth Botts is a freelance writer.
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