Santa’s Helper’s Suggestions for the Gardener

By Susan McCrackin, Fairfax Master Gardener Intern
The holiday season is almost on us, so as you start shopping for the special gardener in your life, we have some fun, unique, and handy gifts for you to consider.

Urban Worm Bag
Want to recycle your food waste, but lack space or have limited options outside? Consider the Urban Worm Bag. This oxford fabric worm bag is breathable but water-resistant, and it allows you to recycle newspaper, cardboard and food waste in the convenience of your home. With worms doing the hard work, you can have usable compost available in a matter of time right out of the bag. This worm bag is designed to last with a lifetime warranty on materials and workmanship. This gift is not only a good ecological choice for the gardener, but it can also be a fun and educational experience for a family. $129.00
Urban Worm Bag Company

PowerGear2 Pruner
Love your pruners, but find that your hand strength either isn’t enough for some tasks or that some pruning tasks really tire your hand? These pruners might be exactly what you are looking for to make your pruning tasks easier. The Fiskars PowerGear2 Pruners provide three times the cutting power on your cuts. Sporting a contoured handle to fit your hand, the pruner has gears to optimize its cutting power. This pruner has even earned the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation. $30.99
Fiskars.com

Bird-X Scare-Eye® Balloons
We love our birds, but sometimes we need to protect some plants or areas by keeping birds away. When that happens, these fun Scare-Eye® Balloons could be just the trick. This set of three balloons move with the wind to keep our feathered friends away from treasured harvests. Made of mylar, the balloons inflate to about 15 inches around and are visible for up to 6,000 square feet! A low-cost deterrent that keeps birds away without doing damage, these Scare-Eye® Balloons are not only practical but might even be great conversation pieces. Pack of 3 $31.75
Bird-x.com

Dirt Snatcher
How many times have you been planting bulbs only to spend half of your bulb planting time just trying to get the dirt out of your planter? Or maybe you had the dirt fall out of the planter before you could get the tool out of the way to clear the hole? This might be the answer to your problems. The Ruppert Garden Tools Dirt Snatcher allows you to use one hand to dig out a hole for a bulb and, when the bulb is nestled in its perfect little hole, release that dirt right back over it. Designed to work like a post-hole digger, but operated only in one hand, this can make planting those bulbs a much easier and quicker experience. Dirt Snatcher 2nd Generation $21.95
Ruppert Garden Tools

Seed Lollipop Pollinator
Perfect as stocking stuffers, these Seed Pops make for fun planting. Just unwrap and stick the lollipop end in the ground. The seeds of the lollipop will grow, and the sticks become the plant marker. The Bumble Bee, Butterfly and Hummingbird Seed Pops are each made of perennial wildflowers, compost, clay and coconut husk. Planting instructions are included with the pops. (Just remember that while these look like lollipops, they are not to be eaten. The compost probably isn’t very tasty, anyway). 3 Pack $14.99
Modern Sprout

Vintage Succulents Puzzle
Puzzles are in great demand these days, and this puzzle will be in demand by gardeners. A beautiful, 1,000-piece puzzle featuring succulents, this gift is sure to delight as well as give hours and hours of fun. Whether enjoyed as a family event or as a singular exercise, the emerging pictures of cacti succulents can entertain almost as much as a garden emerging in the spring. $20.00
uncommongoods

Illuminated Hummingbird Feeder
Hummingbird feeders are always a focus of delight during the day, especially when surrounded by the whirring wings of hummingbirds, but this feeder is also a beautiful lantern at night. Lit by a solar cell that recharges its batteries, this feeder is made of thick hand-blown glass that can light up your yard at night. Easy to clean with all but the LED unit dishwasher safe, this feeder will attract your hummingbirds during the day, and your attention at night. $34.99
Nature’s Way Bird Products

U.S. Postal Service Stamps — Fruits and Vegetables
For anyone who loves to grow fruits and vegetables, this is both a practical and appropriate gift. They feature still-life paintings of 10 different portraits of fruits and vegetables. Artist Robert Papp used real fruits and vegetables to produce the original paintings in oils on canvas mounted on hardboard. This is a gift that will be enjoyed year-round. Book of 20 stamps $11.00
usps