Daniel asks…
What kinds of gifts are good for inlaws?
I’m not fond of mine, but I need good ideas for this holiday season coming up. I don’t have a lot of money so I usually start now and buy a gift each paycheck so by xmas everyone has something nice. I really am lost this year because we are just cordual with one another and they are not close. I have to do all the shopping since my lazy, careless husband wouldn’t even think to give them a card. I wish so much I didn’t care.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Do they have any hobbies – travel or gardening, etc. You could get them a book that relates to their hobbies – they can both read and enjoy it. When all else fails, there’s the good old magic gift certificate. Get one for a nice restaurant so they can have a night out. If you have live theatre near you, you could get them tickets for a show, or tickets for a concert that’s coming after the New Year. Even though you don’t have much of a relationship with them, the gift is also from their son so it still should be nice and something relevant to their lives.
Michael asks…
What flowers belong in a country garden?
My husband and I moved into a house that has the ground work for a beautiful garden. It is split into two sections by a small white fence with a white trellis in the center and a pond in the corner. The house sat empty for two years so the garden is completely over grown. Im about to start the massive cleaning process but what kind of garden should I do? It has a fair mix of shaded and non shaded areas. I love Lillie’s so I want plenty of them maybe some irises. Any ideas?
GardenersCardiff answers:
I would research first with your local agri-life extension agent/Master Gardener program. They are also on line. They’ll suggest inexpensive soil tests and based on those can advise you on soil preparation and native plants which are suited to the different areas of your garden. Full sun, shadier, wetter, dryer sections wil each have plants that will do the best there. Natural gardening will look the most countrified. Mixing in fruit trees, herbs, and vegetables will really make it practical, a mini farm of color and taste. Climbing roses can be trained along the fence and trellis, or wisteria; grapes would be fun. You’ll want plants that come in and out of bloom at different times of the year, staggering heights and layering, to keep the garden full bodied all year long. The lillies and irises will fit in beautifully especially water lillies in the pond bordered by native grasses. Petunias, phlox, marigolds are soo typical country. Passion vine, honeysuckle will draw in the butterflies. Preparation and a basic visual plan are key. Wish I had started a journal when I began and clipped in all the tags from my plantings. Spacing properly is very important as plants grow and you alway happen upon some new find that you just have to fit in somewhere. Successful happy gardening evolves, is not an instant satisfaction thing. Local gardening clubs can be fun, usually there is food brought in decorated with edible flowers, plant exchange gifting. Weeding for me is a daily stress reliever. Have fun!
Maria asks…
Secret Santa: gardening gift ideas?
We are having a Secret Santa in our office and the name that I picked is for a woman who I don’t know much about. All I know is that she has a nice garden near her home. Last year, I picked her name and I bought her a plant. She loved it! I don’t want to get her the same gift this year. It’s too difficult to transport from home during the morning rush hour. Any suggestions? The maximum is $20. Thanks!
I decided to get her a 2-year subscription to “Better Homes and Gardens” magazine. Thanks for your suggestions.
GardenersCardiff answers:
I am an avid gardener and can give you some ideas. You could give her packets of seeds or perhaps a bag of bulbs or maybe a gift certificate to Brecks or Spring Hill bulb company. She may like a new gardening tool or a pair of gardening gloves. Maybe a nice flower pot or a little set of pots that can fit on a window sill. A book on gardening (one for her area) is a great idea as well. A gift certificate to a local nursery is a fine gift that will be well received, too.
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Betty asks…
What are some good gifts to give to teachers at the end of the year?
Keep in mind that these are gifts for 8th grade teachers so it would be my last year at this school. Also there are about 10 teachers so keep cost in mind too…Thanks!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Trust me, teachers have so much accumulated junk in the form of gifts from students that they could live off yard sales for much of their careers.
So, what you get the teacher is something that is going to be used up. If you know for a fact that the teacher loves a particular brand of chocolate, then get that. If you don’t know such preferences, don’t guess.
Otherwise, it’s all about gift cards at restaurants such as Olive Garden, Outback or whatever.
But that’s kinda cheesy, right? I mean, is s/he really gonna remember YOU when that card gets used? No, of course not. UNLESS you also present her with a card that has your mug on the inside and says,
“Thanks -everyone in your class is better because of you. I appreciate it and will never forget what you have taught me -both in terms of the (name of subject) and also in terms of just growing up. What I’ve enclosed is a small token of my appreciation -and if I enclosed a thousand of them, they wouldn’t be enough. Hope you enjoy, and please -don’t stop teaching any time soon!”
Now get going!
David asks…
How much should we spend on wedding gift and what kind of gift certificate?
Our family is going to the wedding of a church friend (the groom). Both the groom and the bride are in their 40s. They are getting married in our church and the invitation does not mention any wedding registry or reception. I am thinking of buying them a gift certificate, but I don’t know what they like. All I know is that the groom is very simple, nature-loving person.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Technically, and under the rules of etiquette, the invitation won’t have the registry listed in it. If you want to know what they want, and where they are registered, call them, one of the wedding party, or their parents, if they are around and involved in the wedding. And yes, it is polite to do so if you want to call and ask.
If you want to be practical, a gift card to a big box store like K-mart or Walmart is good. They could buy anything they wanted to, even putting your card on a pricey item.
If you know he gardens, a gift card to the local nursery, or one of the hardware stores that sells gardening supplies.
Ask if they have hobbies, a gift card to the camera store, or the craft store would be OK.
Or ask what their favorite restaurant is, and even if it is McDonald’s, that is fine for a gift card.
And money is always fine. Depending on how well you know them, and how many people are in your party and will be listed on the card, around a $100 for the present would not be out of line.
Jenny asks…
What is a small business i can start in a country town in W.A?
There is plenty of shops and warehouses to rent for minimal money. I want something different and that will be popular.. I was think of opening a body peircing shop or a garden center/outdoor gift lines..
Does anyone have any other differnt ideas?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Sure do…and no matter how small or big the town is, everybody will find a need for this. Its legal, its from home, and its a money maker.
Can you email me? I promise you will find the information I’m going to share with you to be enlightning.
What part of WA? I used to live in Steilacoom outside of Tacoma. Loved it there. Hope to hear from you soon.
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James asks…
If all electricity and all satellites go out what supplies will i need?
Meaning life off the grid, suggested survival supplies.? I want so survive without the government, live off the land. I’ve started a garden. Need more ideas.
GardenersCardiff answers:
First you should read or watch (the movie) Into The Wild.
Then, if you still want to do this (Unless or course you’re asking because you’d like to survive after a natural disaster like a major solar storm that would send an emp)….
I’d say try to get together with other people who have similar concerns as yours, and put together a game plan. There’s no real reason to leave your home. If it came to that… Then you better be ready to do anything. But if all electric went out you should already have (right now) a garden growing food that meets all your year-round nutrient requirements, and anything else you might need. I suggest learning how to hunt with a gun, bow, and also learn how to have a small farm. All of our communities will be doing this shortly anyways as we are coming to a point in over population that cannot food demands cannot be met. Basically become Amish. Its actually not hard at all to live without electricity, we’ve done it for millions of years. If anything it will kill off the weak.
Mary asks…
Im collecting the supplies I will need as a beginning Gardener.?
Actually Im gathering supplies for my mom. She is addicted to the farmers games on my Ipod Touch, and I thought It would be nice to get her some stuff for christmas so she can have a real garden. It would help if some of you can tell me some tools She’ll need. If you told me what grows in winter too that would be helpful.
Thanks 
So far I have a shovel, a pruner, a cultivator, and some gloves….
GardenersCardiff answers:
A hoe for the weeds and grass.
A spade.
Onions
potatoes
greens
broccoli
beets
carrots
winter squash
The seed packages have information on the back of them. It will show when and the location where things can be planted. You can find them in the stores that sell plants. Lowes have them and Wal Mart.
Ruth asks…
What Can I get my eighty year old grandmother?
I want to surpise her with something. She is a humble women and doesn’t ask for a lot. So she would not accept an extragent gift. I want someting thoughtful. She likes gardening and has just about all the gardening supplies she needs. She loves reading the newspaper and does not go out very much. She is not a huge telivision watcher but she likes old movies. Any suggestions
GardenersCardiff answers:
A gift certificate that says you’ll come in and make her dinner (and eat it with her) one night a week for a month or two or three. People who have everything they truly need are hard to buy for. It’s better to make something (like dinner) that has your own personal touch on it. You could do coffee instead if she’d like that better. Bring a homemade goodie (banana bread, coffee cake, etc) and come make her coffee or tea or something. A gift certificate saying you’ll do it regularly would probably be greatly appreciated. Many older folks enjoy company more than any ‘gifty thing.’
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