Stocking Stuffers that Grow Joy
Forget about the big gifts…my favorite thing to open on Christmas is my stocking. 🧦I love that someone took the time to dial in on small things that I really love.📞 It shows that they know me…that they love me. My mom always does such an incredible job at this and even as an adult, she gives me a stocking most years. I try to find special small items that are meaningful, tasty, or useful so I thought I’d share some ideas for the growers and outdoor people in your life.
Since I know life is busy this time of year (cough I mean always cough), I’ve made a quick view gallery below 👇 After the gallery, you can read about why I think these items are great gifts if you wish! 🎁
Seeds
“I have too many seeds.” said no gardener ever! Seeds are a great stocking stuff. Go for good quality ones. The Dollar Tree seeds do germinate and are fine, but a lot of times you are getting fewer seeds per pack which is something to keep in mind. It might not be the best bang for your buck. Check the packing date on the seed pack. Make sure they were packed for 2023/2024. Some seeds (like strawflower or pelleted seeds) do not germinate well after a year. Other seeds will last for many years, however, you don’t know if the store has cared for them properly so it’s best to buy fresh. My favorite seed suppliers are The Gardener’s Workshop, Johnny’s Seeds, and Burpee.
Lip balm and Sunscreen
Lip balm is a must-have for the gardener’s tool kit. A silly, but effective one, is Chicken Poop. For men, I’d recommend the Duke Cannon Offensively Large Lip Balm. My husband keeps it at his desk and my father-in-law is in construction and got a kick out of it too! For sunscreen, I finally found a zinc-based face sunscreen that doesn’t leave impossible to rub in white streaks on my face. Here’s the link: EltaMD UV Stick Face and Body Sunscreen
Gloves
Gardeners can’t have enough gloves. It’s nice to have a few pairs to stash in different places. I prefer Nitrile gloves because I can actually feel what I am doing and I have a lot more mobility. They are also way more breathable than traditional garden/work gloves. My hands don’t get sweaty and hot in the summer. The only downside of these gloves is that I tend to punch holes through them with my fingernails. These are sized so make sure to get the right size for your person. Atlas 370 Gloves for 3 seasons. Nitrile Insulated Riding Gloves for winter.
Soap
So important for gardeners! We get so dirty easily! Seek out a soap maker in your area. Many local shops and farmer’s markets will have local soaps. Try and support local first..goat milk soap is pretty fantastic I must say! Additionally, I recently discovered Buff City Soap as an alternative to Bath & Body Works. They are now my go-to chain for body care. I love their soaps and laundry detergent that use minimal ingredients and everything is made in the store. Check to see if there is a location near you. Side note: Their candles are incredible. They aren’t too strong and they don’t give me a headache either…also a great gift!
Birth Flower Jewelry
I recently treated myself to these birth flower earrings and I love them. What a sweet gesture for any mom or grandma who loves flowers. You can put together any combination of birth month flowers for a beautiful set of earrings or necklace. To read more about birth flowers, check out this blog post. I ordered my earrings from this Etsy Shop.
Garden Marker & Plant Labels
Did you know that Sharpies and the sun do not get along?! 🌞I didn’t either until last year when I suddenly no longer had writing on my plant tags so I could not longer identify my plants until they bloomed! Ooops! I resolved that by asking my mom for a garden marker. And one can never have too many plant labels so might as well throw some in there too!
Plant Support Supplies
These products are helpful for staking and supporting growing plants. If you’re growing in an unprotected area, it’s important to stake or tie up your plants to protect them from the wind. This is particularly important for flowers because if they get knocked over, they often won’t stand back up, but rather the stems will just grow and move their own wonky way to get the sun exposure they need. Straight stems are important for floral design and arrangement work. Giving you three options here! Twine is more sustainable but requires cutting which requires two hands and an extra tool. The tear tape is plastic, which isn’t ideal, but it is extremely convenient to just tear and go. I also use the Velcro kind which is fine and reusable, but I think I’m getting away from it just because varied lengths and stuff just don’t lend themselves well to reusing as much as I thought. I always have a piece that is too long or too short. This product is made of recycled plastic which is a plus and you might really like it.
Flower Scissors
I took a flower arranging class at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens last winter that required floral snips. I asked for recommendations because I didn’t have a pair of my own. I always just went for the kitchen sheers or my pruners before. They recommended these flower scissors and I really like them. They are lightweight, ergonomic, sharp, and overall easy to use. I have used them in the house for flower arranging as well as cutting in the field. I’ve used them to cut woody stems on plants like rosemary as well. I like that the blade is short so when I am cutting in the field, I don’t accidentally cut into a stem not ready to be cut. I definitely recommend a pair of these Japanese-style scissors in your loved ones’ favorite color.
Mini Trowel
How cute is this mini trowel from Gardener’s Supply?!?! It is perfect to carefully dig seedlings out of their growing tray, add a little extra soil in a tight space without making a mess, carefully unearthing a root-bound potted plant, and more. I don’t have one of these yet, but the reviews are great. It’s on the list of fun and practical tools to add to my toolbelt.
Gift Card to their favorite plant shop.
A plant shopping spree is every gardener’s dream! Consider getting them a gift card that they can go wild with in the Spring. My favorite places to buy plants locally are Colesville Nursery, Cross Creek Nursery, Sandy’s Plants, Ashland Feed Store, Hanover Plant Farm, Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, and The Gardener’s Workshop. I’ve successfully ordered plants online from Proven Winner’s Direct and Burpee.
I hope this quick read was helpful as you continue on your holiday shopping adventures! Remember, every gift, large or small, should be special and meaningful to the person you are giving it to. My great aunt taught me this by taking me shopping for gifts for the family at Dollar Tree at a very young age. She always questioned my choices. “Why did you pick hot sauce for your uncle? Why did you pick an oven mitt for your Nanny?” I am so thankful that she took the time to make me think and help me discover how to give meaningful gifts. She instilled in me this valuable life lesson that is one of my better characteristics today. Don’t just give to give. Think carefully about each gift you purchase. Know why you’re giving. The why behind a gift is more important than the actual act of giving. Until next time, Flower Friends!
Keep Blooming,
Nicole Dillon, Breemar Flower Farm
