Keeping it green this holiday season

Searching for the perfect gift for that special someone who loves to garden? Here are some unique and affordable gift ideas that are sure to satisfy nature lovers, green thumbs, DIY enthusiasts and budding gardeners.

Tools of the trade

Plants need water, but how much is enough? A great gift for the water-wise gardener, a rain gauge is a useful tool for measuring the amount of precipitation and helps to avoid unnecessary water wastage. The award-winning, solid copper World’s Coolest Rain Gauge has been a bestseller since its debut in 2001. Based on the Archimedean principle of water displacement, the inner blue polycarbonate ­measurement tube floats up to show fluid accumulations when rain falls into the outer collection flute.

At this year’s annual IGC show, the independent garden centre industry’s largest trade show and conference, a resin version with a deck mount or stake mount was introduced. Manufactured in the U.S. by a company owned by Moira Clune in New Paltz, N.Y., both types can be ordered directly by visiting worldscoolestraingauge.com. Prices range between US$40 to US$60 for this cool gadget.

The Hori Hori knife is an ideal gift for frugal gardeners who like to multiply their plants by dividing root masses into sections for replanting in their gardens or sharing with others. An indispensable tool, the Hori Hori knife is a cross between a knife and a trowel. Designed to last, it has a hardwood handle, rust-resistant stainless steel blade and comes with a handy belt sheath. Retails at $39.50. Available at Lee Valley Tools, 1395 Ellice Ave., Brigit Waite, store manager, says the Hori Hori knife is a perennial bestseller.

Cloverdale Forge is operated by talented blacksmiths Matt Jenkins and Karen Rudolph. Their uniquely designed and hand-forged items will last a lifetime and become tomorrow’s heirlooms passed down to the next generation of gardeners. Choose from practical tools such as hand trowels or dandelion weeders, one-of-a-kind hooks, gate or door latches, or a range of custom-made accents for the outdoors.

"One of our bestsellers for the patio," Rudolph says, "are our hand-forged stakes for wine, soda or beer." Simply secure the stakes in a potted plant to avoid spillage when entertaining during the summer.

This weekend, Cloverdale Forge will be at a pop-up sale held at Shop 290-4, 290 McDermot Ave., or visit cloverdaleforge.com.

Functional display for plant collectibles

Our love affair with succulents knows no bounds. What to do, though, with the burgeoning multitudes of assorted varieties in their small ­containers? They will look smashing for the holidays and year-round on the three-tiered Raskog utility cart from IKEA. Available in neutral beige, the wheeled cart measures 78 centimetres tall and 45 cm wide and makes it easy to situate all types of plants in the most optimal light conditions. The lower shelf is perfect for storing tools, a watering can and potting soil. $39.99

Organic plant nutrition

Evolve Organic Fertilizer is ­manufactured by Dirt n’ Grow, a Manitoba company owned and operated by Sheldon Gesell. A top seller, Evolve Organic Rage Plus liquid organic fertilizer has proven so successful that it flies off garden centre shelves. Admittedly, it has a strong smell at first, so don’t open until after Christmas. But now there is a brand-new product called Evolve Bloom Enhancer 3-13-3 granular with Rage Plus technology that gardeners will want on their shelves in time for next year’s growing season.

"My garden centre customers have been asking for an organic certifiable item with more bloom power," Gesell says.

This new product, Gesell says, will prove to be the dessert for plants and is ideal for enhanced flower and fruit development.

Gourmet Inspirations

Chef Peter Fehr, owner of Gourmet Inspirations, specializes in making delicious, mouth-watering sauces. Foodies who crave locally made products in small packages can drizzle, slather, marinate, dunk and savour to their heart’s content with Gourmet Inspirations’ delectable finishing sauces.

A popular vendor at local markets in Winnipeg and Toronto, Gourmet Inspirations’ bestselling crowd-pleasers include Salted Caramel Whisky. Fehr recommends drizzling this silky-smooth sauce on waffles with fresh strawberries or use it to create fabulous cocktails.

This holiday season, Fehr has partnered with Capital K Distillery, maker of craft spirits, to create a recipe that combines Tall Grass Espresso Vodka with Salted Caramel Whisky. "Add some Mexican pure vanilla extract, milk and cinnamon and pour into a martini glass," Fehr says. Rim the glass with melted chocolate chips and crushed pretzels.

Salad lovers will want to try the newly launched Prairie Berry salad dressing made with Manitoba-grown saskatoon berries and Canadian wild blueberries.

For a complete list of products, where to purchase and recipes, too, visit gourmetinspirations.ca.

Fehr is the founder of Love Local, an annual event that showcases made-in-Manitoba food and beverages. Enjoy live music and the opportunity for sampling from more than 50 vendors. The sixth annual event takes place March 2 at Victoria Inn. If you would like to buy tickets to Love Local for someone’s Christmas stocking, Fehr has an exclusive promo code for Free Press readers (freepress18) to purchase tickets at a $10 discount. Visit lovelocalmb.com. Offer available until Dec. 31.

School of Rocke

Is your special someone dreaming of designing a beautiful backyard oasis? Surprise them by booking a consultation with a landscape designer or consider a more immersive experience such as the newly launched School of Rocke’s lecture and workshop series.

The brainchild of Byron Rocke, owner of B. Rocke Landscaping, School of Rocke will be offered on two consecutive Saturdays, Jan. 26 and Feb. 2. Registrants will learn the fundamentals of design taught by experienced professionals and have the opportunity to get their hands dirty. Rocke says this two-day workshop is suitable for horticulture and landscape design students who want to hone their skills, as well as do-it-yourself enthusiasts planning to design their dream space.

Registration is $230, or $180 for students. Visit brockelandscaping.com.

Give the gift that grows

No gardener can resist a packet of seeds. Indeed, the very feel of a seed packet in a gardener’s hands and the sound of the seeds when the package is shaken creates anticipation and brings spring closer.

T&T Seeds, 7724 Roblin Blvd. in Headingley, carries more than 1,200 vegetable and flower seed varieties. President Jarrett Davidson shares some of his favourites: Spinless Perfection zucchini, Dragon’s Tongue bean, Everleaf basil, Evening Scentsation petunia and Red Onyx pepper.

Tomato varieties are at the top of the list for many gardeners. Davidson recommends a tasty, high-yielding paste tomato called Sunrise Sauce, the only professional non-heirloom orange Roma cooking tomato on the market that is easy to peel and has a sweet and meaty flavour. Best grown in-ground, days to maturity from transplant are 55 to 60.

Subscription boxes

Back by popular demand, Sage Garden Greenhouses, 3410 St. Mary’s Rd., offers a Gardener’s Winter Survival subscription box. Each month from January through March, recipients receive a box filled with a curated selection of organic, botanical and sensory experiences delivered right to their door. It’s a surprise package that is sure to delight. The cost for all three packages is $148, which includes shipping and delivery.

colleenizacharias@gmail.com

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