MEEKS: Christmas gifts for the gardener

It is hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner. I love the Christmas season. It's a time when my family and I celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, gather with loved ones, eat delicious foods that are only made this time of year and, of course, it is a time for giving. I have always loved giving gifts to people, and the Christmas season enhances this love. Many of us are or know avid gardeners. So what are some Christmas gifts that they would enjoy?

Gardeners love their tools, so tools are always a good place to start, but quality is the key. Quality tools are made well and can stand up to the job, especially when trying to dig through Georgia clay.

Gardening carts are also highly valued. Instead of a gardener having to haul each item piece by piece, they can load it all up in the cart and go. Garden carts come in many different sizes based on your needs.

Clothing is also an option. Gardening gloves are essential for protecting your hands while working. A good pair of gloves is always welcomed. Working in the garden can get quite muddy. Rubber boots or clogs are another good item for an easy cleanup. Gardening aprons are another possibility.

Plants as gifts can be a little tricky. Most gardeners do not want your run-of-the-mill house plant or rosemary bush. If you do not know what they like or are having trouble picking a plant, a gift certificate to a garden center will do the trick.

For those with carpentry skills, build a shed for storing garden supplies, trellis for climbing plants, garden benches or swings or a work bench for plotting plants. The possibilities are endless. My father built my mother a swing last year to put in her garden. I have never seen her happier.

Have you thought about the gift of education? Many gardeners have plenty of gardening books, but what about coming to a class where they can learn from Master Gardeners? Beginning in January, our office will be holding a series of classes taught by Master Garden Extension Volunteers. The classes will be held in our office and will cost $10 per class. In January we will begin with Basic Landscape Design. There will be two classes held in February, Weeds and Turfgrass and Advance Landscape Design. March's class will be Vegetables 101. May will also have two classes: Propagation and Pollinators. Registration for these classes is required. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact our office.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Dec. 24-Jan. 1: Closed for Christmas Holiday/New Year's

Jan. 5-7: Beltwide Cotton Conference, New Orleans

Jan. 18: Office closed

Jan. 19: Green Team Recertification Training, Perry

Jan. 25: Forage/Hay Production meeting, Perry, 6 p.m.

For more information on any program area, contact Houston County Extension at 478-987-2028 or drop by our office in the old courthouse, downtown Perry, 801 Main St. Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit our website at www.caes.uga.edu/extension/houston for more news about your local Extension office.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 10:25 PM with the headline "MEEKS: Christmas gifts for the gardener ."