WestSound Magazine presents our annual “Gift Guide for Gardeners,” which spans across West Sound, hitting Belfair, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Silverdale and Bainbridge Island. This presents a cornucopia of options for your gardening friend or family member, whether it be an article of clothing for the outdoors, a tool, plants or one of the other many items that West Sound’s nurseries and garden stores offer for the holidays.
At Bay Hay & Feed on Bainbridge Island, owner Els Heigne says there are numerous nursery products that you can get for a gardener. She recommends socks (approximately $18-$24) and gardening boots (starting at approximately $88) as good clothing articles for gardeners. As far as socks are concerned, “people love that,” she says. If gardening regalia is not the right choice, Bay Hay & Feed has a variety of bird feeders that can bring critters into the garden, Heigne adds.
Bainbridge Island also has Bainbridge Gardens as a venue for holiday shopping. “We have planters of seasonal flowers and colors” that can be customized, says Donna Harui, member of the family business. The shop also has a collection of rare and unusual plants for the house. She explains that even botanical collectors appreciate these plants. If someone already has plenty of plants, though, a Hori Hori knife or grow lights are a good alternative, Harui recommends.
Maria Taylor of Valley Nursery always has a floral recommendation for a gardener who needs a gift. “Bay trees are a good little gift,” she says. They sit at a manageable price of $9.99 and, like most herbs, are a good winter gift, explains Taylor. Of course, Valley Nursery’s variety of houseplants or camellias (approximately $70) are beautiful and another recommendation by Taylor.
Sam Maupin from The Brothers Greenhouses has a huge list of plant recommendations for the winter season. He shares that winter jasmine ($19.99), flowering maple abutilon ($5.99), holly ($24.99), hellebore ($17.99), euphorbia ($7.99-$19.99) and lonicera are good plants to purchase for somebody during the winter. Winter jasmine “is kind of uncommon but interesting enough — that yellow really is cheery for the darkest part of the year,” Maupin says. The flowering maple abutilon plant, which is part of the hibiscus family, is “a really fun one,” Maupin adds. Hummingbirds are drawn to its red flowers. The holly plant, though, “is the classic thing,” Maupin says. It can be a hearty hedge in addition to being a nice, single plant.
At Crazy Hill Garden & Botanicals, you’ll find the works of many local artists for yard art. Co-owner Elton Busby says, “I have a number of mosaic pieces.” There are hanging mosaics, table mosaics and bird bath mosaics at a variety of prices. You’ll also find cut-metal pieces like a birdfeeder or a lampstand between approximately $20 and $125. If you prefer gifts for home interior, there are also fiber-art flower arrangements.
Bremerton City Nursery has both plants and non-botanical gifts for someone who loves gardening. The shop’s Theresa Dreaney says that with their plant arrangements, lotions (about $20), aprons (about $20-30), “faux-leather, whimsical handbags” and tea towels (about $20-30), “they’re all very affordable.” She explains, “We always have pretty holiday arrangements that we put in our houseplant (area).” She adds that the store offers a nice selection of botanical-themed lotions.
All these nurseries and gardening-related gifts are good choices for the gardener in your life, recommended by the knowledgeable staff and owners of these establishments.
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