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Give a gift of plants this Christmas
© Joe Buckingham – Flickr
Is it only me that gets stressed as Christmas looms ahead? Festive trees and decorations are appearing in shops, lights are being turned on by celebrities and commercials are appearing left, right and centre – don’t get me started on the John Lewis advert (bears and hares don’t mix, if a hare woke a bear at Christmas, said bear would probably starve, and finally, there are no bears in Britain…I’ll stop there…). During most of the year, when life gets a little too hectic and I need somewhere to hide, the garden is the ideal retreat. The problem is; at this time of year, anything more than a quick shuffle around the borders with a mug of tea glued to my hand, is too much. However, there’s still a way you can indulge in gardens whilst addressing that problematic subject of Christmas presents at the same time.
I often give plants as presents. In fact, more often not, you’ll received a green leaved present from me. I know there are lots of Christmas lists around that are compiled of gardening gloves, skincare ointments and chic little garden kneelers, but let’s be honest, they’re pretty boring as presents go. You can’t exactly do a lot with them, and though they might be handy, most people aren’t going to be gardening during the festive season any way. So, they get stashed in the back of cupboard and forgotten about. However, plants do offer something immediate which be enjoyed both on Christmas day and for many years to come.
Paperwhites can be forced in just 3 weeks. © RC Designer – Flickr
Bulbs are one of my favourite gifts to give, and there’s still time to force bulbs before the big day. That means you can buy bulbs in a bag, pot them up, give them a little attention and prepare them to be in flower on December 25th. If they start to bud before you’re ready, just move them to a cool and frost-free place in the house.
If forcing bulbs is a little too much effort, you can find specimens that have been forced for you. And, whilst the best time to plant bulbs is the autumn, I find that if you plant in January after the Christmas flowers have died over, you can sometimes get repeat flowers within a few months. Alternatively, you can give a pot of forced flowers and a bag of bulbs, providing a beautiful spring treat for many years to come.
Other great plants to give at Christmas are hellebores or hardy garden evergreens. Poinsettias are traditional festive plants, but they don’t last very long and, in my opinion, are a bit of a waste. Giving the gift of a beautifully wrapped hellebore, heuchera or piece of topiary provides instant gratification as well as something to love for many years to come. Some of my favourite plants have a story to tell or can be associated with a loved one. They have a place in my heart.
Another great gardening-themed gift which can be of great use is actual hard labour. Whether you create a little IOU promising X amount of work hours, buy some specific gardening credits with a company or just offer a monetary sum with which to hire some gardeners for a few hours, it can be a great present. Simply look around some local gardeners, such as Westland’s garden maintenance in London, check out their hourly rates and give loved ones enough cash for a few hours. When spring comes and everyone’s desperate to get their garden looking pristine again, the gift can then be cashed in.
You and I will probably still be dashing around in the lead up to Christmas grabbing those last gifts. But, if you want to avoid the packed high streets and offer something that’ll bring a smile and much joy for months and years to come, gifting plants is the ideal solution.
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