Gardeners are easy to buy for. Make it something related to their passion and you’re home and hosed
Tool time
Practical is good when it comes to gifts for green thumbs
Burgon & Ball mini snips, $24.99, from Shut the Front Door.
Dewit Japanese left-handed hoe, $47.99, from Kings Plant Barn.
Budding Gardener wooden trug, $69, from Father Rabbit.
Niwaki golden shovel, $98, from Gubba.
Number 8 sprung leaf rake, $27.98, from Mitre 10.
Kiwi Garden bypass pruner, $6, from The Warehouse.
Niwaki kneeler, $69, from Gubba.
Plants to give
Mini orchid. One of the most popular – and attractive – house plants, these come in a stylish white pot. $34.99, from Kings Plant Barn.
Calathea rufibarba This Brazil native, with its fur-like under leaf, is remarkably easy to care for. $39.99 from Kings Plant Barn.
ZZ plant As house plants go this requires little attention and not much water – it’s a dream come true. $31.99, from Kings Plant Barn.
Lavender Lavish Love Heart is known for its large flowers and love of the sun. $24.99, from Kings Plant Barn.
Class work
Flower arranging
Do you know someone who wants to be a florist or arrange flowers like one? Auckland florist Davina Prankerd of Vida Flores does regular 90-minute, one-on-one lessons. She’ll tailor it to your specific needs, be it flowers for your home, a special event, celebration or just as a creative experience. $250, vidaflores.co.nz
Go bananas
Kelmarna Gardens in Auckland run loads of courses throughout the year, not least the Bountiful Bananas class about how to grow your own, rather than buying imported ones. To see what’s on offer, check out kelmarnagardens.nz
Grow your own veg
The Full Monty gardening workshop at the Falls Retreat, Karangahake Gorge is a monthly course that covers the fundamentals of growing vegetable with head gardener Nicki Murray-Orr. It includes soil health, planting from seed, pest management, crop rotation, composting and worm farms. Morning tea and lunch included. $150, fallsretreat.co.nz/educate
Green thumbs
Encourage a love of gardening from a young age
Get children involved in planting flowers and vegetables when you are in the garden so they learn by osmosis and become invested in plant growth. Also, get them some cute pots so they can look after their own pot plants. And how about a garden-themed puzzle on rainy days?
Lettuce x Auckland Art Gallery Just Outside Taumarunui puzzle, by Dick Frizzell, $49.99
Ceramic dinosaur pot, $19.98, from Mitre 10.
The Garden Bunch gift box, $115, from Father Rabbit.
White Moose bunny planter, $39.99, from Shut the Front Door.
Silver garden fork necklace, $219, from Karen Walker.
Book a kokedama class at Babylon Store to learn how to make these planted moss balls and take the two you make with you. Ancient kokedama stand, $129, from Babylon Store.
Read all about it
When you can’t have the soil between your fingers there’s always books about gardening
The Kew Gardener’s Guide to Growing Orchids by Philip Seaton, $27.99, from Father Rabbit.
Crazy Plant Lady by Isabel Serna, $30, from Kings Plant Barn.
Lost & Found by Zoe Field, $65, from Koa Press.
Time out
Somewhere to sit and enjoy that hard graft is always appreciated
Taking time out to contemplate your heavily fruiting apricot trees, verdant grass and abundant basil is one of the true joys of being a gardener. Attractive outdoor furniture is one of the best rewards. Sit back and watch the birds drinking from a feeder and the kids playing giant Jenga – bliss.
Terrace lounger, $999, from Nood.
Indigo outdoor sunlounge, $1995, from Coco Republic.
Nouveau butterfly chair, $89.99, from Mitre 10.
Safari sofa, $1200, from Freedom.
Perky Pet Mason jar bird water feeder, $29.99, from Gubba.
Weber Go-anywhere charcoal barbecue, $189, from Mitre 10.
Easy Days giant garden Jenga, $159.99, from Kings Plant Barn.
Get lit
Illuminate the neighbourhood with these festive outdoor lights
Tip Always plug the lights into an outlet first to check that all the bulbs are working because there’s nothing worse than spending hours up on a roof only to discover you’ve got a dud on your hands. Make sure to measure anything you’re planning on decorating to make sure you’ve got long enough lights and extension cords, and work with a buddy to safely string your Christmas magic. Use plastic adhesive clips to clip your lights in place, avoid the old Homer Simpson hammer-and-nail method. String along trees, rooflines and anywhere else your heart desires.
Light relief
Remember portable Annabelle lamp, $109, from Gubba. This rechargeable lamp gives 20 hours of illumination from one charge.
Fermob Aplo lamp, $160, from Jardin. This works as a torch, outdoor table illumination or hanging light. It’s an all-rounder.
Alston Triple Post, $679, from Early Settler. Add a touch of Victorian romance to your garden.
Twinkle town
Who needs Franklin Road in Auckland when you can make your own house shine twice as bright?
Solar-powered 150 LED multi-coloured strawberry lights, $18, from Kmart.
Solar-powered candy cane stakes, $17 (four-pack), from Kmart.
Kiwi garden solar bulb string light 10LED, $16, from The Warehouse.
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