Gifts Gardeners Will Love

Garden Design Magazine Subscription

Garden Design magazine can be enjoyed by people across zones, coasts & garden sizes. Featuring the best garden photography in the world without any ads, subcribers call it pure inspiration. Plus, it's delivered four times a year!

Starting at $45

Stylish Vertical Planters

Has dad run out of room to garden? Leo Wall Planters, made from aluminum (shown) or corten steel, are great for vertical gardening and are designed to direct water away from the surface they’re mounted on. From top to bottom: Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Foxtail’, Lavendula stoechas, and Mentha spicata var. crispa ‘Moroccan’. Designed by Todd Holloway of Pot Incorporated.

Starting at $130

Fish Garden Art

Maine artist Tyson M. Weiss makes these unique ceramic fish sculptures that appear to lazily cruise through pristine plantings. A school of three is ideal for conveying the impression of movement. They can stay outdoors all year and come with garden rods. The Medium Salsa Fishie is shown, but there are a variety of koi and trout in many colors.

$50 available here

Go-To Tool for Loosening Soil

Peter Jacobsen grows food for The French Laundry, a Michelin 3-star restaurant. The Meadow Creature Broadfork is his go-to tool for loosening soil without destroying its structure. “It works better than a hand rototiller and you get a nice workout,” he says. Under the bar are four 14-inch-long spikes; after driving the spikes into the soil, you use the handles to pull back on the tool, loosening the earth.

Starting at $207

Jacobsen’s Farm Fig Jam

Jacobsen grows 12 different kinds of figs, some of which make their way to the tables at The French Laundry and into the restaurant’s gift shop, Finesse, in the form of jam.

$12

Staghorn Fern Plaque

Staghorn ferns can be stunning works of living art, indoors or out. Pistils Nursery offers them pre-mounted on a rustic cedar plaque with a built-in hook. They are a great way to liven up small spaces like a sunny kitchen or bedroom.

Starting at $46

Canonical Polished Concrete Fire Pit

Concrete artist Maysun Wells’ bestselling piece is his 44-inch conical fire pit. It’s made of polished concrete and crushed glass with a wide lip to accommodate drinks. When not in use, its ipe wood cover allows the fire pit to double as a table. Its size works best with a four-chair arrangement.

Price varies

Giant Tumbling Tower

Dad will enjoy a classic tabletop game in grand scale with this oversized version of tumbling tower that’s perfect for the garden. Plus the set is handmade in the USA.

$198

Backyard Beehive & Starter Kit

Help dad bring health and vitality to the garden, as well as natural raw honey to the kitchen. This kit contains a three-box, eight-frame beehive along with protective clothing and the tools he’ll need for establishing his hive.

$500

Garden Design Magazine Subscription

Garden Design magazine can be enjoyed by people across zones, coasts & garden sizes. Featuring the best garden photography in the world without any ads, subcribers call it pure inspiration. Plus, it's delivered four times a year!

Starting at $45

Farm-Fresh Flower Bouquet

Nothing says “Happy Mother's Day” like flowers. Kendall Farms will deliver farm-fresh flowers right to your door. “Each bouquet is a unique display of local and seasonal flowers. Always the best of the farm.” They offer two bouquet sizes and even a subscription option for delivery all year long.

Starting at $39 available here

Bendt Iron Gathering Basket

Does mom grow her own food? Then she needs this gathering basket from Crate & Barrel. Made of iron wire and mango wood, it will allow her to carry fresh herbs and veggies in style. It could also be used as a display piece.

$40 available here

Roll-On Perfume Oil

“I am smitten with the roll-on perfume oil Noble, by MCMC Fragrances. It blends beautifully and imparts a delicate, subtle floral note in the background of my day,” says Taylor Johnston, former greenhouse and garden manager at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

$45 available here

Floral Sneakers

Let mom enjoy the beauty of flowers—even on her feet! Keds’ beloved canvas sneaker gets a spring update with Rifle Paper Co.’s Lively floral print. With these shoes, mom will be comfortable and cute.

$60 available here

Bloom Bloom Round Flower Pendant

Surprise your flower-loving mom with a handcrafted pendant necklace. Part of Erwin Pearl’s exciting collaboration with The New York Botanical Garden, each piece is unique and made with real, hand-pressed flowers. Plus a percentage of the proceeds support NYBG’s research, conservation and education programs.

$225 available here

Cotton Crusher Hat

Keep the sun off mom’s face while she gardens with this lightweight and breathable hat. A hidden drawstring assures a comfortable fit and the hat can be easily packed. Available in five colors from Terrain.

$36 available here

Mackintosh Roses Scarf from the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens

The rose design on this scarf is adapted from a design by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The scarf is 100% silk and measures 60 x 11-1/2”. Don’t have time to wrap it? Gift packaging is also available.

$60 available here

Plant-Based Illuminating Primer

This organic primer from Juice Beauty absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a residue. Its coconut alkanes leave skin feeling soft and smooth. An excellent gift for moms who are conscientious about what they put on their skin.

$36 available here

Seed-Bearing Lollipops

With flavors like sage and marshmallow or rosemary and mint, these organic lollipops are sure to satisfy a sweet tooth. Plus, each biodegradable stick is filled with heirloom herb or flower seeds that can be planted in a container or the garden.

$27 per dozen, available here

Lavender Body Cream

Gardening is tough on skin. Help mom nourish, soften and hydrate hers with this luxurious body cream from 100% Pure. She’ll love the delicious, calming scent and that it’s free of anything artificial, synthetic or toxic.

$20 available here

Online Succulent Arrangement Class

Would mom love to learn how to make stylish container compositions with gorgeous succulents? Then Debra Lee Baldwin’s Craftsy class is the perfect gift. She’ll get access to seven in-depth videos explaining how to create bouquets, terrariums, wreaths and more.

$40 available here

Handmade Organic Chocolates

Snag mom a tasty chocolate bar, some yummy caramels or some to-die-for peanut butter cups. Snake & Butterfly is a family owned chocolate factory that refines a premier selection of organic, fair trade cocoa in small batches.

Starting at $5

Adopt a Bee or Butterfly

Does mom get excited each time she sees a bee or butterfly flitting through her garden? Adopt her favorite pollinator on her behalf through the World Wildlife Fund. She’ll also get an adoption kit with unique thank you gifts.

Honey bee adoption, starting at $25

Monarch butterfly adoption, starting at $25

Garden Design Magazine Subscription

Garden Design magazine can be enjoyed by people across zones, coasts & garden sizes. Featuring the best garden photography in the world without any ads, subcribers call it pure inspiration. Plus, it's delivered four times a year!

Starting at $45

The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden

“There is no reason we can’t create convenient, beautiful landscapes that also meet the needs of many, if not most, of our animal neighbors,” says Doug Tallamy, who authored this book with Rick Darke. Together they explain how to create a beautiful home landscape that nourishes and fosters wildlife. Includes examples and strategies for designing and maintaining a diverse landscape.

$36 available here

Sticks & Stones: The Designs of Lew French

Lew French composes in stone. He builds pieces that look as if they have stood for eons. Whether it’s a raspy slab of granite or a smooth tumble of river rocks, he puts stone where it seems to want to go. This book explores his work, which seems to defy the laws of time and gravity, both in the garden and in interior spaces.

$27 available here

The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual

Author Barbara Pleasant wants people to grow more houseplants. Her guide provides advice and in-depth information on hundreds of houseplants, plus useful “interiorscaping” tips. Easy-to-use plant directories, care information, and trouble-shooting guides will benefit even experienced houseplant enthusiasts.

$21 available here

Designing with Succulents

“Today, it’s possible for anyone, anywhere to cultivate any kind of succulent,” writes Debra Lee Baldwin in this completely updated version of her best-selling classic. With hundreds of plant recommendations, as well as plenty of photographs, this is an essential resource for those designing a succulent garden.

$25 available here

Gardening with Conifers

Conifers first captured Adrian Bloom’s imagination in the ‘70s while he worked on Foggy Bottom, his experimental garden at Bressingham. In this book he shares his advice on using conifers to create year-round interest in the garden. It also features 600 conifer varieties with information on planting, pruning, propagating and more—all accompanied by stunning photography, taken by Adrian’s son, Richard Bloom.

$25 available here

Gardening with Foliage First

According to authors Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz, many gardens lack a cohesive sense of design. This collection of 127 combinations introduces gardeners to the idea that a well-planned garden starts with a solid framework of foliage. Organized by season, with options for sunny and shady locations, each plant combo includes design descriptions that will equip readers with the knowledge they need to get creative and devise their own.

$17 available here

The Bold Dry Garden: Lessons from the Ruth Bancroft Garden

A must for any garden-lover’s bookshelf, this book pairs Johanna Silver’s eloquent storytelling and Marion Brenner’s exquisite photography to show how the Ruth Bancroft Garden evolved into the 3.5-acre waterwise garden that it is today.

$25 available here

Garden Revolution: How Our Landscapes Can Be a Source of Environmental Change

Larry Weaner, who has been creating, restoring, and managing native landscapes for more than 30 years, shares his expertise in this valuable reference for anyone looking for a more ecological approach to gardening and landscape design. Weaner shows how choosing plants that are more suited to the soil and climate of their site will provide a vibrant and beautiful landscape for years to come, with much less maintenance.

$27 available here

The Thougtful Gardener: An Intelligent Approach to Garden Design

In this book, award-winning garden designer Jinny Blom shares her insights from designing over 250 gardens around the world. Readers will appreciate how Blom integrates the history of a site into her design, always taking the environment into consideration. Her story and knowledge will appeal to a wide range of garden enthusiasts.

$34 available here

Kevin's Kitchen: 100 Recipes for Delicious Living

In this new book, Kevin Lee Jacobs, creator of A Garden for the House, a popular food, garden, and lifestyle website, shares recipes that focus on the simple pleasures of preparing a good meal at home. Whether using homegrown ingredients or items purchased from the farmer’s market, this book helps remind readers to slow down and enjoy making and eating their food.

$38 available here

Niki Jabbour’s Veggie Garden Remix

“For me, a big part of the fun in food gardening is trying new edibles; from quirky cucamelons and burr gherkins to super-sweet ground cherries or amaranth,” says author Niki Jabbour. In her new book, she shares over 200 plants for adding variety to veggie gardens. Her enthusiasm for garden experimentation is contagious.

$14 available here

How to Window Box: Small-Space Plants to Grow Indoors or Out

Popular bloggers Chantal Aida Gordon and Ryan Benoit, of The Horticult, present 16 indoor and outdoor window box projects. Their book includes plant combos ranging from succulents to vegetables, as well as choices for full sun and shade. “Even though window boxes have a reputation for being classic and traditional, they are also an excellent way to experiment, especially if you're working in a small space,” they say.

$13 available here

Grow What You Love

Creator of the celebrated blog, Pass the Pistil, Emily Murphy has a new book that shows how easy it is to grow your favorite produce. She shares how to fit gardening into modern life with little time or effort, as well as some of her favorite seasonal recipes.

$25 available here

Handmade Ceramic Vases

Self-taught potter Frances Palmer creates vases, cake plates, urns and dinnerware that are both elegant and distinctive. We love her whimsical vases (such as the H&G Loop Vase shown) and how she pairs them with lush flowers from her cutting garden.

Starting at $175

Large Ceramic Modern White Hanging Planter

This 6.5-inch hanging ceramic planter, from Digs Inside & Out, is perfect for displaying a tillandsia or succulent. Can be used as a single accent piece or arranged in a group.

$11 available here

Seibert & Rice Shell Pot

Crafted in one of the oldest terra cotta workshops in Italy, this pot is equally stunning empty or planted. Seibert & Rice, a company specializing in fine Italian terra cotta, makes planters like this available in the U.S. The Shell Pot is part of their Ornamental Collection, which features pieces distinguished by their sculptural detail.

$380 available here

Bee Bungalow with Trellis

For those looking to invite pollinators into their garden, this is perfect nesting space. Made with hand-cut natural lake bed reeds and drilled-out branches with a variety of opening sizes, the Bee Bungalow with Trellis provides a garden support system for both flora and fauna. Available in 7 different color options.

Starting at $379

Garden Conservancy Gift Membership

A membership in the Garden Conservancy helps save and share gardens, fund education programs, and support preservation work. Membership also offers entrance to exceptional gardens through Open Days. Last year, over 300 private gardens in 18 states were opened, allowing thousands of people to discover beautiful spaces not usually accessible to the public.

Starting at $50

Molly Muriel Gardener's Friend Soothing Oils Set

If there were a contest for the most trusted gardener in America, Annie Hayes would be on the short list. A favorite of the staff at her Richmond, Calif. nursery, these oils are perfect for gardeners who just don’t know when to quit. Trauma Healer is great for treating bruises, scrapes and inflammation, while Muscle Ease is good for soothing sore muscles. The set arrives ready to gift in an eye-catching, pin-striped, natural box with raffia ribbon.

$30 available here

Greenway Garden Birdbath

Barbara Israel, an authority on American garden ornament, rescues statues and other garden items from ivy-covered obscurity. Modeled after an antique original from England, this well-proportioned birdbath is part of her Garden Traditions line of historical replicas. It is available in Weathered Limestone or Classic Buff.

$800 plus freight

Spun Aluminum Planters

Cool space-age pots like these aluminum Pod Planters by PAD Outdoor make bold, clever partners for plants with high personialty, like Agave striata (narrowleaf century plant), Cycas revoluta (sago palm), and Kalanchoe beharensis (velvet elephant ear).

Starting at $194

Artisan Apron

This apron, made of wax canvas, comes with a lifetime guarantee. It’s crafted from heavy-duty materials and boasts reinforced pockets. In addition to gardeners, it’s a favorite among woodworkers, mechanics, and the like. Available in three sizes and four colors: rust (pictured), olive, black, and slate.

$98 available here

Forged Dual Cut Bypass Pruner

Corona Tools is known for making sturdy, functional tools that serve gardeners well. This pruner has a second curve within the hook of the blade that allows you to easily cut branches up to 2 inches in diameter. It also has an internal spring, so it shouldn’t get bumped loose as you’re reaching inside a tangled shrub. This is a solid midrange model for the weekend warrior who prunes for short periods of time.

$25 available here

Okatsune No. 103 Pruners/Secateurs

With no gearing, cushioning, or added leverage from the handle, these no-frills pruners by Niwaki rely on a sharp edge and hard steel to achieve crisp cuts—even on fibrous materials like bamboo. The latch can be slid open or closed on your hip, and the Japanese-style spring doesn’t fall off. In a nod to ergonomics, the blade has a slight angle downward. For those who appreciate simplicity and strong steel, this minimalist model is a satisfying choice.

$32 available here

Perforated Mud Shovel

When working in wet ground, ordinary shovels can get stuck in the muck. That’s where this shovel by Bully Tools sets itself apart. The holes in the blade let it slide free with less sticking and its welded I-beam keeps the handle attachment from cracking under heavy, mucky loads.

$40 available here

HERShovel

The HERShovel was built to make the most of a woman’s stature and strength, but the company has also received positive feedback from men who have used the shovel. Its steel blade with extra-large step and its two-handed grip reduce shoulder and back strain while digging.

$66 Available here

Leonard Deluxe Stainless Steel Soil Knife

The tiny, jagged serrations of this American–made soil knife by A.M. Leonard are great not only for weeding but also for finer applications like scoring the roots on annual flowers and opening bags of potting soil. The twine-cutting notch and 6-inch ruler stamped onto the blade are helpful additions. However, though the curved shape of the handle is the epitome of comfort, it also shortens the area where you grasp the knife, making it most suitable for gardeners will smaller hands.

$30 Available here

Serrated Farmer Dagger

With its thick, highly sharpened teeth and nearly unbreakable boron steel blade, this knife by Dewit could be as useful in a dark alley as it is in the garden. It’s incredibly sturdy; a hammer can be used on the flat top of the handle to drive the tip of the knife through hardpan or rocky soil. It can be used right- or left-handed. For gardeners working in hard soil, it’s indispensable.

$60 Available here

Compact Extendable Pruning Saw

The long pole and heavy head of many pole pruners makes for an awkward balancing act. This pruning saw by Fiskars solves that problem with a pole that collapses to 3 feet. The oval pole extends to 8 feet and is made of steel for added strength and stiffness compared with lighter aluminum tools.

$35 Available here

If your friend or loved one is always thinking about their garden and dreaming of new ideas, Garden Design makes a great gift. The seasonal, ad-free publication comes four times a year. We think a subscription to Garden Design is the perfect gift for anyone who loves gardens, and readers agree. Here are testimonials from two subscribers:

“Everything about it is beautiful, including the paper it is printed on. If you have a strong interest in landscape and garden design, I urge you to subscribe.” —Deborah Silver of Deborah Silver and Co.

“A garden magazine that can be enjoyed by people across zones, coasts, yard sizes, and levels of horticulture knowledge.” —Nick McCullough of McCullough’s Landscape & Nursery LLC

Use this link to give a gift subscription to Garden Design magazine.