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Cultivating Garden

Grow garden sales by mixing practical gifts for gardeners, garden-themed products and permanent botanicals.

By Meredith Schwartz -- Gifts and Dec, 1/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

While gifts for gardeners are an evergreen category, that doesn't mean there's nothing new. Greater realism gives permanent botanicals a wider appeal than ever before in looks ranging from comfortable country to avant garde. Moreover, self-contained garden kits — especially those featuring plantable or otherwise environmentally friendly containers — are a growing trend. Here, some ideas for a garden gift mix this spring.

	Arani Olive earthen vessel from The Firepot Collection is hand-glazed and uses alcohol based BirdBrain Fuel Gel. Citronella Fuel Gel available. $69. BirdBrain Inc. (734) 483-4536
Nouveau Jardin flower bird bath comes in medium and small; red, blue, yellow and green colorways. $50–$135. Amscan Inc./Grasslands Road (800) 444-8887
	Sunflower basket is from the French Courtyard collection. 60”x64”. $1,598. NDI (800) 522-2627
New Eighty Days Hummingbird Feeder is shaped like a hot air balloon and has a non-acid etched bunting design. Includes Dripless Gondola. Holds up to 50 oz. of nectar. 6”x10”. $44. Parasol (877) 748-6637
	Spring Centerpiece from the Carrot Patch collection has a glass hurricane suitable for a pillar candle. $49.95. ARTEflorum Inc. (800) 755-2800
Wood Flower Topiary green wood bark topiary tree, accented with silver bells for the holiday season. $35. Sullivans (800) 456-4568
	Grass wreath with lemons on twig base measures 24” in diameter. $40. Accent Imports, Markham, ON, Canada (800) 263-3551
Pocket Garden flag by artist Mary Lake-Thompson comes in standard, $21. Also comes in garden size. Magnet Works (314) 333-5001
	Organic Soap Garden comes with organic soil and a biodegradable planter and saucer made from grain and rice by-products that is filled with organic soaps and body washes. Available in black or green. $45. Danielle and Company (800) 893-5950
Cat Garden, new for 2009, is one of several garden grow kits in a biodegradable pot that contains instructions, seed and planting medium.$10. Toland Home Garden (800) 989-6287
	Japanese Gardens by Geeta K. Mehta, Kimie Tada and photographer Murata Noboru features 20 Japanese gardens. Hardcover. $34.95. Tuttle Publishing (802) 773-8930
Hammock vase with purple and light green allium is new from the Designer’s Loft collection. 19”x13”x8”. Call for prices. Immortalis Botanicals (434) 391-9960
	For the Birds by Anne Schmauss, Mary Schmauss and Geni Krolick offers a month by month guide to attracting birds to your yard. $19.95. Stewart, Tabori & Chang/Harry N. Abrams Inc. (212) 229-7123
Rice Hull Gardens container gardens come in environmentally friendly pots made from renewable grain husks (primarily rice hulls) and organic pigments. Pots will retain their shape and texture for about five years and are 100 percent biodegradable. $15–$25. Potting Shed Creations Ltd. (208) 835-4066

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