Are you looking for a bit of inspiration? A few unusual gardening gifts you could give to a gardening enthusiast. Or perhaps you want some suggestions for yourself to share with your friends or family. Whatever your situation this is the blog for you!
My suggestions aren’t tools or equipment. After all, I reckon we’ve worked hard enough this year in our gardens folks, so are due a little fun too! But all of my ideas are something I think a garden-lover could relate to. And I’ve a mix of prices, so things that would be a nice little treat, and bigger present ideas in case you’re looking to push the boat out! But everything is under £40.
So sit back, and read on…
Unusual Gardening Gifts Under £15
Pots Accessories
I’m a massive plant pot enthusiast and love experimenting with them. Whether that’s planting up metal containers, creating pots out of old packaging or using unusual containers such as recycle bins and wheelbarrows.
So this lovely way to add extra interest to a traditional every day plant pot really caught my eye.
What’s also lovely is the theme. I love dragonflies, and while I wait to attract one to my mini pond, I can atleast enjoy these on my pots. The one above is a Meadow Dragonfly but you can also get a Blue, Red and Purple Dragonflies plus Butterflies and Moths. Some of the larger insects are slightly more pricey at £5.99 but it’s not going to break the bank!
Mugs
I spend a lot of time drinking tea and coffee while gardening. In fact I leave our kitchen window open and the tea and coffee making things within reach of it. That way I can easily make myself cuppas without the bother of taking my boots off and coming into the house!
So if you’re looking for something pretty and practical, this ceramic mug from Laura Lee Designs is a winner. It costs £12. I particularly like the use of vintage gardening tools in the design. And you can also get a mini-me version if there’s a young gardening assistant you want to treat! The gift box it comes in carries the same design too.
For a mug that’s no less pretty but a daintier style I love this Catch Me If You Can mug from Sophie Allport. Fortunately I don’t have bunnies racing through my garden, but this design makes me wish I did! I also can relate to the leaves flying out of the wheelbarrows as they dash along. The standard sized mug costs £12.50 and is fine bone china.
I am reluctant to have something as precious as bone china in the garden with me, as I’m rather clumsy. I put mugs down and forget where the heck I’ve put them! But at this price I think I’d risk it. On a practical note, this mug is slightly smaller, it hold 275ml – whereas Laura Lee’s mug holds 300ml. But you can buy a larger version of the Sophie Allport design, which holds a whopping 400ml, if you’re prepared to spend a bit more.
Books
I was first introduced to gardening very young. My parents gave me a square metre of garden to cultivate for myself. I rammed it full of decorative ornamental squashes and gourds. These were absolutely beautiful in my eyes – and when I harvested them I managed to cut my hand. So a trip to the local hospital and a shot of tetanus followed! Ah happy days!
So if you’re keen to get a little one into gardening (but with less medical drama involved) then I think this book called Easy Peasy looks fun. Written by Kirsten Bradley it is beautifully illustrated and filled with ideas, fun facts and easy-to-follow instructions.
No matter where you live, or what gardening space you have,it has ideas for making bird feeders, insect houses and of course growing things.
Each activity has been carefully created by Kirsten who is apparently a leading practitioner in permaculture for kids and the book is suitable for children aged 5+
Tools for Kids
To help the kids put all of the book’s ideas into action, you could further inspire them with these sweet gardening tools available from Dobbies. The mini rake, trowel and fork all come in a colourful toolbelt – and the whole thing is just £9.99
Wall Calendar
My lovely daughter, Liza, gave me a garden-themed wall calendar last Christmas – it was personalised and I loved it. It was so useful. It hangs with pride in my shed, and to be honest although the year is nearly at an end I’ll probably keep it up as it reminds me of her.
But if I was looking for a replacement, this Year in the Country Wall Calendar by British artist and designer, Matthew Rice, could be it. Beautiful, useful and packed with some extra tips and bits of advice, it costs just £9.95.
In case you’re wondering, as it looks ginormous in the picture, it’s 12″ square when closed.
Unusual Gardening Gifts Under £40
Terrarium
I’ve often fancied a terrarium, but those I’ve looked at have either seemed really expensive or enormous – or both. So this neat terrarium kit caught my eye.
This DIY terrarium starter kit includes the jar and lid, gravel, activated charcoal and peat-free compost to create a mini-ecosystem perfect for growing succulents or desert plants.
The glass terrarium stands at just 20cm tall and 14.5cm wide, so it would be good for a student flat, an office or a home where space is any issue. It would look very nice on a table in a sitting room.
Note, the plants are not included. But I think a trip to a garden centre to choose your plants, and have a cuppa and cake of course, would all be part of the fun!
Bird Feeders
As you will know, I do a lot to encourage the birds into the garden. I’ve blogged about how to attract more birds into your garden with your plant choices. And this year we even built a new bird box – which was used by rooks.
So it will come as no surprise to you that a bird feeder is on my pressie list. Here are a couple of the bird feeders which I think would make more unusual gardening gifts.
If the style you’re after is old-world, then this Rustic Caged Birdfeeder may be for you. It looks wonderfully weathered, as if it has been out in the elements forever – a bit like me! And can happily be left out all year round – again a bit like me! It costs £39.99
If your style is more contemporary then you make like this Birdball Belle Bird Feeder. I think it looks really sleek and effective. It comes in 6 different colours – mushroom, terracotta, white, lime, blue and grey.
Bees
I think there’s a real challenge when you talk about gardening for nature. A lot of the solutions, bee hotels etc can look a bit, well scruffy. That’s fine for me as my garden is a bit of a bomb site at the nest of times. But if a garden is all sleek, minimal and contemporary, a pile of old logs or a rustic bird box may not fit in.
So if you are struggling to find more unusual gardening gifts with a nature dimension, that work in a modern setting then this Bee Brick solitary bee house ticks all the boxes!
It’s an innovative nesting site for solitary bees, created to look lovely just stood in a garden. Its contemporary look and feel will work in a modern setting.
The Bee Brick can also be used in place of a standard brick in construction, creating more habitat for non-swarming solitary bees. In fact, Green & Blue, the company behind the Brick, suggests it will provide a nesting site for red mason and leafcutter bees too.
So that’s it – 10 gift ideas for you. Happy gardening x