What to Buy for a Gardener

Gardeners are easy to shop for; since there are a million things you can get them to help improve their gardens. The most important things to know are what the garden looks like and what its purpose is.

If the gardener is focused on growing flowers and vegetables, then your job is easy. The best idea would be to get a gift card for your local garden center. That way, she can stock up on seeds and pick up an extra watering can when the growing season starts.

Then you have the more serious gardeners, like my parents. The back yard where I used to play ball is now a huge garden with countless flowers, a birdbath, a stone walkway and a chair. On the other side of the yard, even more plants are growing up against the house. Sometimes, Mom and Dad run out of places to plant things and turn their attention to our house.

When you know people who are this serious about gardening, you get into a larger world of gift ideas.

OUTDOOR DÉCOR

Walk lights are a good way to add class to a garden and to expand its usefulness. The Malibu Co. makes a variety of them, from solar accent lights to mission-style lights. Check out the different styles here.

Another outdoor lighting idea for less money is the Matador Rechargable Lantern. It comes in a steel pedestal style ($12) and a black criss-cross style ($16).

Coleman makes an outdoor party cooler with a stand for $70. It's perfect for outdoor entertaining and it looks a lot better than a Styrofoam cooler.

CANOPIES and FURNITURE

Your gardener can show off her work by hosting a picnic under a canopy. Delahey makes a 10x10-foot square canopy for $180. You can also get one with woven wall panels from Palm Valley for $200.

Delahey also makes a bar-style table and a matching pair of chairs for a total of $180.

BIG STUFF

What do you get for the gardener who has everything? Well, if she has some room, you can get her the Coleman BackHome 30-inch Round Copper Fire Pit and costs $90.

If she really has a lot of room, you can get an 12-foot Airblown Outdoor Movie Screen. As impressive as that sounds, it only costs $200.

What you want to think of, especially looking at these last two items, is how to make the garden into a destination for visitors. After putting in so much time and effort, the gardener wants to show off their work. What do they want the most for the garden? People to enjoy it.