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Dig This
Friday, December 15, 2000
Star-Bulletin
Well-made tools, particularly ones that
enjoy frequent use, are a welcome gift.
Wally Nakamoto of Wally's Garden Center Inc. on Beretania has a gift idea for the gardeners on your list: How about a nice bag of compost? Gift suggestions
for gardenersIf that doesn't have the festive flair you were hoping for, Nakamoto also creates gift baskets bursting with plants and color, but even those come with practical advice.
"When you select a gift for garden people, make sure you know what they like," he said. And choose plants, tools or media consistent with the sort of gardening they do.
Exposing gardeners to new ideas is OK too, said Nakamoto. For example, if you know someone uses a lot of chemicals in his garden, a gift of organic fertilizer and pest control alternatives might be a good way to go.
Items that are used constantly and/or subject to wear also are good bets, such as pruning shears or gloves.
And some stores sell functional returned tools at reduced prices, so keep an eye out for bargains.
Read on for garden gift ideas from local retailers:
Brookstone, Ward Centre
This clean, well-lighted gadget shop has two gardening tool kits, the indoor plant care kit comes with a mister, hand tools and a carry pouch for $39. And the $75 set with a kneeling pad, heavier hand tools and a carrying case, among other things. "This is for the more serious gardener," said Assistant Manager Vicky Pelton.A folding kneeler/sitter can be used as a chair when right-side up, or flipped over for use as a kneeler, the legs of the chair then serve as handrails to help the gardener up and down from the kneeling position. "It's collapsible and easy to store," said Pelton. It sells for $30.
Another popular item, according to Pelton, is Plant Smart.
"It lets you know what plants will grow best in your soil," she said.
The $29 battery-operated tool evaluates light and soil moisture levels.
Garden House, Beretania
Gift certificates are a great way to go for Christmas, said Steve Oda, president of the Garden House.If something more specific is in order, the store sells a whole line of Mulberry bonsai shears, which range in price from $10 to $120, depending on steel quality and craftsmanship. "Some of them you don't even have to sharpen for years," he said.
He also recommended the following brand lines: Shindaiwa chainsaws and grass cutters, Little Wonder hedge trimmers and edgers and the True Cut lawn mower. "The class act of all reel lawn mowers," said Oda.
Home Depot, Iwilei
The thing that we do differently than anybody else is we do pots, all sizes, all prices, all styles," said Barbara Everts, sales associate. They range from 57 cents for your garden variety potting plastic to $149 for a giant terra cotta pot.A popular line is the Ming pot, which boasts a high glaze in colors like celadon and grey. They sell for between $9.73 and $23.94.
Earthenware pickle pots are also big sellers, according to Everts. They come in beige to dark green and blue and cost $5.54 to $25.97.
"The other thing people like a lot are the fruit pickers," said Everts. They sell for $23.97.
Koolau Farmers, Kaneohe
Dwight Nikaido, general manager of this local garden shop, had two holiday gift ideas for gardening indoors.The Burpee Kitchen Crop Seed Sprouter ($14.99) allows the home gardener to farm alfalfa, soy, sunflower and other sprouts for stir-frys, salads or sandwiches.
A portable potting tray has space for mixing soil and storing tools for repotting house plants. It sells for $12.49.
Lowe's, Waikele
The Lawn Buddy's name suggests it is more than a tool for the gardener, it's a friend. The tired gardener's muscles might agree.The plastic "buddy" ($29.93) is about two feet long and a foot wide. It is a storage unit on wheels topped with a seat and cup holder. It is light and easy to pull around, according to Nancy Pilkinton, live nursery specialist.
"It's great for washing the car and things like that as well as gardening," she said.
Another muscle-friendly recommendation from Pilkinton was the Corona ratchet pruner ($15.99). "People who have arthritis or carpal tunnel, it's easy to use, because you don't have to use as much force," she said.
Also popular is the Black and Decker extension handle kit ($16.98). It works on Black and Decker grass shears ($34.98) and shrubbers (cordless $42).
Star Garden Shop, Moiliili
Plants take center stage at Star for the holidays.A new poinsettia hybrid, the winter rose, is a favorite of manager Elton Hara.
"The flower kind of curls up in a twirling kind of shape. It looks like a rose." The plants at Star have been shaped into ball topiary. They sell for $20 to $25.
A triple color poinsettia in 3-gallon pots planted with red, white and marble varieties sells for $80.
A relative of the poinsettia called little child flower or Mexican poinsettia is due in soon. The 5-foot plants, which are covered in delicate white bracts, will sell for $50.
In the tool department, Hara recommends the forged-steel Corona pruning sheer at $22.99.
A Walk in the Garden, Kaimuki
This arty boutique specializes in garden ornaments, such as fountains, bird baths and outdoor candleholders.Owner Diane Halford did have some practical gift ideas for gardeners, however.
She sells Tidy Garden Gloves, with rubber finger pads for $11.95. They come in a rainbow of bright pretty colors and sizes small, medium and large.
Sloggers rubber garden clogs for $15.75 are easy to clean and available in women's shoe sizes 6-10, said Halford.
"I have Christmas tree ornaments that are garden related also," she said. They depict watering cans, bird houses, fruits, etc., and sell for $4-$20.
Gardening Calendar in Do It Electric!
Stephanie Kendrick's gardening column runs Fridays in Today.
You can write her at the Star-Bulletin, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802
or email skendrick@starbulletin.com
