TOP 10 GIFTS FOR GARDENING LOVERS, UNDER $30

written by Abra Lee, Garden Contributor

Some of the best gifts I've ever received have not always been the most expensive ones. True enough, I'd always appreciate another pair of designer sunglasses, but gifts that speak to my love of gardening are often near and dear to my heart. I've pulled together a few of my favorite things, all under $30 and can be ordered online with the exception of two items. If you have more gift ideas to share or questions about any of these selections, please add them to the comments section below. Happy Holidays!

1.|  HORI HORI KNIFE- Japanese for "dig dig" its a must have tool for gardeners, $21.04.
2.| FOXGLOVES ORIGINAL-I love the smooth texture of this brand. I own an elbow length pair in purple, $20.
3.| HERB QUARTERLY MAGAZINE One of my favorite gardening publications, it's very well-written and I read this one cover to cover, $19.97.
4.| AMERICAN GROWN: How the White House Kitchen Garden Inspires Families, Schools, and Communities - I get excited every time I see our First Lady in the White House Garden.  This book contains many images of her tending to the garden and discusses how it has influenced us all to play in the dirt again, $19.80.
5.| 3 WHITE CONTAINERS IN VARIOUS SIZES- I got hip to this from a blog post a few weeks back by colour expert Maria Killam. People often give gardeners interior plants but they don't include a decorative container for the plant. She makes the point that no matter the color, plants will always look good in a white container. I totally agree.
6.| GARDEN JOURNAL Get this for your favorite gardener and write an inscription in it. Tell them to write about what they're doing in their garden, lectures attended, etc, $18.60.
7.|  A vintage garden book (hardback copy)- pick one, any one. Old school garden books are so descriptive and fun to read. Plus they look so classy sitting on your desk. Shop estate sales, your local thrift, or Goodwill for great finds at deeply discounted prices.
8.| GARDEN CLOCHE - Whether you're using it to start plants from a seed or just as a display to cover some of your favorite garden item, cloches' are a plants best friend, $26.97.
 9.| AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP - Gift your gardener with a membership to the American Horticultural Society. It's $35 (so it puts you $5 over budget) but there are so many benefits like: discounts to public gardens, and subscriptions to publications like American Gardener Magazine and others. 
 10.| PHOTOGRAPH AND FRAME - There are many gardeners who don't have pictures of themselves working in the garden. Snap a few candid shots of your favorite gardener and frame the best picture you take. They're sure to love it.

HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT HOLIDAY TREE

Written by Abra Lee, Garden Contributor

A few weeks ago Erika suggested starting off the month of December with a post on how to pick the perfect holiday tree. Her idea made me think back to an article I saved from the December 2010 issue of Better Homes and Garden magazine. In it garden designer Jon Carloftis used living trees instead of cut trees to decorate inside his home for the holidays. So my advice is this: if you pick a tree that you are willing to plant, then you have picked the perfect holiday tree. 

Better Homes and Gardens December 2010- Jon Carloftis’ living tree

Now don’t get me wrong, traditional trees are fabulous. After all, nothing fills your house with a rich holiday smell like a fresh cut Fraser Fir. However, it is okay to be different and purchase a container grown living tree. Just ask your local independent garden center for suggestions on trees with winter interest. 

Here's an evergreen topiary shrub that looks great when planted in any container indoors or outdoors.

Maybe it’s a tree that is evergreen, has unique bark, or one with an unusual branching pattern. Perhaps it’s not a tree. What about a large shrub that flowers during December, an interior plant that adds life to the room once the holidays are over, or a fragrant herb shaped like a tree? Choices are endless so use your imagination and customize the tree purchase to your needs. The decorations you add will make your indoor “tree” festive though the choice is non-traditional.

courtesy of CountyLiving.com

Flowering shrubs are festive and Rosemary cut into topiary form add fragrance indoors during the holidays) Part of the holiday spirit is about giving and this is a great way to give back to the environment while starting your own tree planting tradition. When you pick a living tree you know it’s perfect because it will live on in your garden or be planted in the community once the New Year arrives. Plus you will have a great story to tell when guests come over and ask, "What’s up with that tree?"

BLULABEL BUNGALOW CONTRIBUTOR: ABRA LEE

If you didn't know, there's something wonderful happening here on BluLabel Bungalow! It's been almost three years since I started this blog and I swear I have the most loyal, supportive readership out there. You all are more like family! In an effort to diversify the content, I've added a few talented contributors to the mix. After all, you deserve it! I tried my best to wait and kick off things in January, but I am way to excited to announce the new garden contributor, Abra Lee!

Hello everybody my name is Abra Lee and I am thrilled that Erika asked me to join the BluLabel Bungalow family as garden contributor. Garden design is my passion so I always keep my eyes and ears open and camera close by to capture inspiration that benefits everyday gardeners. My message to you will be simple design concepts that can be applied to any garden.

 
For over a decade I have lived the landscape lifestyle and spent time practicing my skills in many places including commercial landscape companies, an independent garden center, private residences, an interior plant firm, and an international airport. I was further schooled on the beauty of nature at Auburn University where I graduated with a degree in horticulture. Even more important than these experiences are the many gardeners and mentors I’ve met whose influence taught me the lessons I get to share with you.

So you know I AM A GARDENER and I also want you to know that I AM A PROUD SOUTHERN GAL and Georgia is always on my mind. Growing up in Atlanta I spent many days playing outside and in its many beautiful parks. On weekends I headed down to Barnesville, Georgia exploring the excitement of gardening on a rural farm.

"With one foot in the city, the other in the country, and both hands in the garden I was destined for a career in the outdoor classroom."

I believe gardening takes patience, creativity, lots of love, and maybe even the occasional pep talk to keep your plants happy. There’s always work to be done, questions to be asked, and mistakes to be made. By implementing one design idea at a time and nurturing your plants, the garden will reward you. I look forward to sharing my stories and learning from yours too!