Winter isn’t exactly peak gardening time. But one could argue there’s no better moment to remind someone of the splendor of spring than in those dark and barren months. I always find that as soon as the branches are bare, and the flower beds are put down for the winter, my mind turns to what might be around the corner. Nothing fosters possibility like a blank slate. Here are some gifts for the gardeners or the green-thumb-curious in your life.
Vogue’s Guide to the Best Gifts for Gardeners:
Tools to Keep the Garden Going
Of course, you have to tend to any of your charges that might have moved indoors for the winter—and you need the right tools to do it. This fall, I’ve moved my geraniums, some weedy rosemary that’s suffered through the driest stretches of summer, and a small fig tree indoors to see if they will survive my overheated house, a fate that has in the past killed off all but the hardiest of succulents and citrus plants. And after years of letting my secateurs rust, I’m hopeful that an investment in a truly artisanal pair of shears and some anti-rusting oil will motivate me to keep them sharp and clean.
An Evergreen Education
Even when it’s just too bitter to be outside, there are ways to keep your garden fresh—or at least gather inspiration. This season, I’m hoping to find time to take Dan Pearson’s Create Academy Course. Pearson is the gardener responsible for (among other things) creating the Delos garden at Sissinghurst. This fall, Rizzoli is putting out a book I am quite obsessed with, a facsimile of the memoir by the famous 19th-century gardener William Robinson, the father of the wild garden movement, about the only garden he made for himself. I keep Penelope Lively on my shelf to dip into in darker months, and then for a loving splurge for the antique-minded, consider this first edition of Vita Sackville West’s garden writings—what could be better?
Made In the Shade
The point of gardening is to get dirty, so clothing should of course be secondary. That being said, some solid, practical apparel goes a long way. You know what they say about dressing the part…
Bringing the Outside In
Sometimes you need a little manufactured greenery, or the scents and sounds that bring it to mind. And some of these candle holders will leave you with a beautiful object, once the wax has burned away. I once planted an actual tomato plant in the Loewe container—and it worked!
Serious Tools
For when your loved one is ready to get back to work, here are some recommendations for the person who really likes to get their hands dirty (the ultimate backyard composter!) or not (some sturdy and always handy gardening gloves).