Houseplants Galore

Jean’s next list is for the Indoor Gardener. Houseplant gardeners never seem to have enough plants, so adding to their menagerie is likely to be well received. All but one of the recommendations in this list are websites with online shopping capabilities.

• Almost Eden has a large selection of unusual Bonsai starter plants, fragrant plants and edibles.
• Glasshouse Works specializes in rare plants. Gift certificates are available starting at $25.
• Logee’s Plants for Home and Garden is a well-established source for rare and unusual plants, as well as the more common varieties. We recommend gift certificates.
• Telos Rare Bulbs is a bit pricey, but wonderful source for unusual plants. The minimum order is $25 plus a shipping fee of $20.
• The Indestructible Houseplant, by Tovah Martin, is a first-rate book with alternative ideas for growing indoor plants. The book also contains illustrations that show how to use plants to enliven a room. For more information about using plants for indoor décor, see Jean’s blog on the subject.

Pests & Nature

Jean’s next list is for the Warrior Gardener. This is the gardener who always seems to be waging a battle — deer, rabbits, mosquitoes or just the weather. Here are a few gift ideas that will support their ongoing war effort.

• Scarecrow Motion Activated Animal Deterrent. This is the best method I’ve found for training deer to stay away from plants. As a point of fact, it’s useful for driving away just about anything on legs. It works by shooting a burst of water when an intruder is detected. Note, Jean has a blog about dealing with deer. Click to read.
• Stoppestinfo.com, is one of the best informational websites I’ve found for deer deterrent information. It provides insights and tidbits about the dozens of liquid and granular products available for deer deterrence. Since many of the products either smell bad to humans, or are attractive to dogs, Jean suggests exercising care when placing these products as gifts under the Christmas tree.
• Thermacell mosquito repellent is great for the gardener who has trouble enjoying the outdoors in the evening or early morning. Jean reports using these for several years, and says they actually work! Patio varieties of the product are available at hardware, sporting goods, and the big box home centers.
• Technu Poison Ivy and Oak Scrub is a topical cream that may be invaluable to have around if your gardener friend comes in contact with noxious plants such as poison ivy. The brand’s website has ‘where to find it’ information.
• IvyX Pre-Contact Solution is skin solution lotion that’s used before working near poison ivy. It places a barrier between the gardener’s skin and the oils from the plant that carry the rash-inducing irritants. The website will tell you how to purchase.