Backyard Gardener

Story and Photos by Kat Long / Contributing Writer

You’ve planted some fall crops (or not) and are keeping them alive (or not). Both are completely acceptable after the summer of “no, I will not grow for you.” Kind of like planting a bunch of two-year-olds and expecting them to do what we want them to do. Moms in the audience will get this, I promise. Growing aside, we are now entering the time of year I like to call “paying it forward”; otherwise known as Christmas. Now,

you don’t have to give the best gifts (but most gardeners do because we are thoughtful like that) AND you don’t have to get everyone a gift (but most of us do because we identify strongly with the red-suited, bearded guy). You see where this is going. If you are the gardener/grower/person who deals with the plants the best you can, hand this article to your friends, significant other or spouse now. You can read this article in January. Here is why: some of these things you will want to go out and buy for yourself. Immediately. This will leave those that love you flabbergasted and annoyed that you have bought all the best Christmas gifts for yourself, leaving them no alternative but to resort to Lowe’s and Amazon cards as gifts. Of course, if this is your evil plan, then keep reading and let the season of self-giving commence.

Whether you are a seed saver, seed collector or know that your gardening friend/family person loves all the seeds, you can’t go wrong with unusual seeds as gifts. It’s like a dare for your gardener: Could you grow it? Will it grow in Oklahoma? Would other people be very jealous/ envious if I did manage to grow this plant? All are valid reasons to plant a seed. Seed catalogs like Baker Creek, found at RareSeeds.com, have their 2023 seed collections already on the website, so feel free to order.

If you are a seed saver and want to share the bounty, check out this gardener’s little seed saving kit at uncommongoods.com. Fill with some of your favorite seeds and gift away. Great wildflower seed mixes can be found at edenbrothers.com; Johnston Seed Company is located in Enid and has great grass, cover crop and clover seeds, johnstonseed. com.

Seed catalogs are always fun for stocking stuffers. Companies like Territorial Seed

Company, Baker Creek Heirloom Seed, Gurneys and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange all have seed catalogs that can be requested in the mail: some for a small price; others are free.

Another fun gifty is the square-foot gardening template. This cool little tool helps space those seeds correctly so they don’t overcrowd each other and helps with long row spacing like carrots, salad greens or radishes. It comes with a handy dandy garden planting guide as well.

Clippers Every gardener needs a great set of clippers. This is a recommendation, as most people have their favorites, but these are my favorite clippers: Felco Pruning Shears, made in Switzerland. Now, hear me out. They fit your hand well; are easy to take apart and clean; cut decent size stems and branches; and, if taken care of, last forever. I have somehow lost mine (hint, hint) in the wilds of the yard. Or I may have taken them with me on a project and left them somewhere. Whatever the case may be, they have left my material plan. If you absolutely want a U.S. brand, the Barnel 7” Lightweight Pruner is another option. The ergonomic handle is not for everyone, but someone with arthritis or hand challenges might appreciate this design.

Propagation As most gardeners and plant lovers know, it is much easier (and less expensive) to divide a plant to make more plants than starting from seed or buying a plant from a store. To that end, this cute little propagation stand, which is both attractive and useful, might make a great gift. Go one step further and collect cuttings from friends and family to add to the gift. Since I have cuttings in all kinds of water bottles, cups and mugs, this little stand with glass water holders is truly a beautiful addition to my collection (hint, hint). If you know someone crafty with the woodworking tools, you could thrift glass containers and have said crafty person make a custom shelf to hold them. I am thinking wood pallets might make great base wood for this project as well. And we are starting gift gathering early, so take advantage of the month of November to prepare your gifts, especially homemade ones.

Gifts made by friends and family are always welcome under my tree. Those gifts signify that this gift getter is worth the time and effort it took to make that gift. Or buy that gift from an artisan – because homemade and artistmade gifts are not cheap to make or to buy. There is time and thought put into each one. These gifts have meaning and care, which during the holiday season is a pretty good gift to give or get. So, make those egg aprons for your chicken friend; get that T-shirt quilt finished for Christmas; bake that loaf of bread and gift it with a jar of local honey. We all have talents and can give from them. And we all know artists and creators who would love to sell us their wares. Magazine

Subscriptions Hear me out on these. Not just any magazine – and for heaven’s sake, no Sports Illustrated or Vogue. We are talking Mother Earth Living, Fine Gardening, Amateur Gardening, Garden & Gun (you know who you are) and Garden Culture are all magazines most gardeners would enjoy a subscription to for at least a year. Taking the subscription idea a little further, do some research on Home & Garden shows in your area, both local and regional. For instance, Tulsa and Oklahoma City both have spring garden shows for which a person could very easily make a homemade gift certificate and follow up with tickets when they become available. Follow thru is important here, so if you need to be in the moment, stick with the magazine subscription or tickets that can be purchased as a gift.

There are The Backyard Gardener gift recommendations for 2022; Christmas or otherwise. Homemade coupons for cleaning out flower beds, mulching, weed pulling and overall yard help are great for young kids (or older kids) to give the favorite gardener in their life. Throw in mowing, trimming or weed eating coupons, and you might just be finished Christmas shopping early this year. Leaves you more time for, you guessed it, Happy Gardening.