Last week was my birthday and after an indulgent lunch of delicious gourmet pizza, my friend, Sylvia, and I were walking to her car where she said my birthday gift was stowed. Our cars were parked very near each other, and as we approached them, she said she'd pull hers next to mine.  I thought it odd since the cars were already only a couple spaces away from each other. Anyway, I didn't question, and after she pulled her car over, she got out, walked over to her trunk, and said, "Okay, are you ready?"  

By now I was expecting a bouquet of balloons or something similar to come flying out of the trunk. What I saw instead was a lovely surprise. Not a bouquet of balloons but 3+ flats of beautiful spring flowers ready and waiting to be planted! It was a warm sunny day, one of the few we've had of late, and the thought of taking the afternoon off to do some planting made for a delightful rest of my day.

Truth be told, time got away from me and I didn't plant that afternoon, but I did plant all of the flowers this past weekend and it was a delight.

Now Sylvia and I are both avid gardeners, and she knew that I would appreciate the flowers to create my own container gardens, which I did. This is a great gift idea for someone who loves to plant containers or flowerbeds. Simply choose an assortment from your nearest garden center.

If the idea of choosing all those flats of flowers is just not your thing, here are some other gifts for gardeners that can't miss.

1. Simpler than choosing flats of flowers from the garden center, and more appropriate for the garden lover who doesn't have the time, space, or inclination to plant their own, give a completed container with a nice mix of flowers and plants. Choose the container size based on their space, and check the tag for light requirements (sun or shade) based on what type of light their space receives.
2. Many of the larger garden centers have a store or gift shop located in them, and choosing a garden themed gift here is a can't-miss. A plant stake, wind chime, or garden stone will always please the garden lover.
3. A new or updated tool, pair of garden gloves, flower bulbs, and a garden accessory can make a nice garden themed collection to wrap up in a gift bag or stuff into a planter for a gift basket style gift.
4. There are many types of carrying totes for transporting garden tools and other essentials around the garden. You can find two of our favorites on our garden gift page. One even includes a sturdy garden seat which all gardeners appreciate with the many hours they spend sitting, standing, or kneeling in the garden.
5. A good gardener's book will always be appreciated by the garden lover. You can choose something functional with tips and advice for the garden or choosing the right plants. Or a picture book meant to inspire with lots of beautiful photos of nature.

If you're still not sure what to buy for the garden lover, consider one of our unique garden gift baskets. 

      Gardener's Essentials Gift Basket        

Joyful Garden Gifts

Have you received a garden gift that you loved? Tell us about it in the comments!