In the last couple of years, plant parenting has become a major thing, and I for one am glad! I love, love, love plants! In fact, if I had my way, I’d turn my entire house into a full on jungle, but then I think, hello spiders and I’m like errrr, no thanks! So my gardening is reserved for outdoors, with some house plants to keep me happy.
As someone who enjoys digging my hands in the soil and watching mother nature bless me with her bounty, I’ve put together a little gift guide which I think fellow plant lovers (no matter their level of gardening enthusiasm) will love.
Ponytail Palm Mossball
This is a great plant for new plant mama’s who want a plant to take care of, but don’t want to be 100% dedicated to nurturing their new babies. Plantify, has a range of gorgeous mossball plants, which are hand-tied using the classic Japanese Kokedama technique, which helps to keep the roots moist and easy to care for.
The best thing about mossball’s is that you can stand them (no pot needed) or use them in beautiful hanging pots or macrame planters. I love the Ponytail Palm Mossball (R340) simply because, it looks so beautiful, but I also really like the Heart Leaf Philodendron Mossball as well.
Go check out their Mossball catalogue for a plant that speaks to you. I know you will find more than a few.
Grovida Ladybug Garden Gloves
How cute are these gardening gloves? I’ve had my fair share of ratty and tatty gardening gloves, but never a pair that looked quite so cute! I want these too and at R129, you can’t go wrong with the Grovida Lady Bug Gloves from Takealot.
These are said to be comfortable (which is important when gardening) and they will protect your hands “during hours and hours of gardening”.
I also like that they are 100% cotton and have rubberised dots on the palms to provide extra grip.
Macrame Hanging Planter
As much as I love plants, I absolutely love Macrame. Macrame anything, but especially plants in macrame. I don’t know, the natural cotton (or jute) rope of the planter always looks so beautiful holding a natural plant.
I’ve tried my hand at doing my own Macrame, which I’m really into, but since the DIY part is not everybody’s game, the next best thing is to buy ready made Macrame Plant Hangers.
These days you can literally find them everywhere, but I really like this one from Knus (R195).
Cambridge Printed Waterproof Parka
If she’s into gardening, she’ll really be into this gorgeous Cambridge Wild Tropics waterproof parka from Rosehip (R990).
They come in a wide range of prints, and are all locally made right here in South Africa. The parka features an internal drawstring, hidden zip, metal press studs and a drawstring hood.
This local brand, that also sells in the UK not only has these gorgeous raincoat parka’s, but also waterproof ponchos, sun hats and sun visors, umbrellas and loads more, all in beautiful prints.
So, if you’re looking to create the ultimate spoil, you could even combine a few items to make a really special and really thoughtful gift that will be as unique as the person you’re gifting.
Janes Delicious Gardener’s Hand Balm
If you’re into gardening, you have no doubt heard about gardening author Jane Griffiths, who has a few gardening books under her belt in the Jane’s Delicious series.
She has now gone onto create a beautiful range of body care products made with herbs, plants, and oils derived from mother nature.
There’s a whole ton of really delicious looking body treats, that are even more deliciously packaged. So, if you want to impress the true gardener you’re gifting, she (or he) will love Jane’s Delicious Gardener’s Hand Balm (R140 for 50g) as a thoughtful gift or brilliant stocking stuffer.
It’s packed with beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil, Kalahari melon seed oil, sweet almond oil, vitamin E oil, aloe vera, frankincense, lavender and rose pelargonium. Everything you’d need to moisturise and care for hard working hands.
Wildflower Leather Journal
The serious gardener will love and appreciate this beautiful, leather journal with a beautiful fine-line engraved protea illustration on the cover, to mark his or her gardening ideas.
It’s the perfect one of a kind gift (as each skin is individually selected) and the perfect place to jot down sowing calendars, plant names and sketching gardening ideas – even though it is not a “gardening book” per se.
There’s lots of other illustrators to choose from with this same style of journal from Wildflower (R320), but I think the Protea one would be perfect for garden enthusiasts, or even perhaps the one with the Pressed Flowers motif.
Vertical Modular Garden Stack
Another gardening “invention” that people are loving right now – especially those with limited ground to spare- is the Vertical Garden Modular systems, and this one from Leroy Merlin (R165) is a great starter at a decent price.
This isn’t the complete set up, but it’s a great way to give your gift receiver a head start, where they can start building their vertical garden with three plants. If they enjoy the process and would like to build on it, they can purchase more and stack them as they please to build their very own, customised vertical garden.
Such a lovely idea, and one where the sky is literally, the limit.
Happy garden shopping
xo
Dimi