Trends: Garden gifts
Get it first, but first get it right... The preceding words were printed on a sign that was posted in the first newsroom in which I worked. The gist was this: We love scooping the competition, but if we do, we had better be scooping them with accurate information. The message — I learned, ever so painfully — also applies to gift giving.

Several Christmas seasons ago (yeah, I said, "Christmas!"), I made a dash to the mall early to beat the holiday crowds. As I made my way through the masses who apparently also decided to try to dash to the mall to beat the holiday crowd, I veered to miss a woman pushing a stroller and promptly committed the unthinkable: I made contact with the lovely woman working the kiosk in the middle of the aisle. "Looking for a gift for your significant other?" she asked. And before I could either bolt or pretend that I didn’t speak English, she slapped this contraption around my neck that instantly rendered me helpless.

It was warm to the touch and oh-so-pleasant feeling as it soothed my tense shoulders and neck. "Amazing, huh?" the woman asked, rhetorically. The collar, which she told me she had just put in the microwave, instantly relaxed me. She then warmed up a companion piece and placed it on my lower back. If I hadn’t been made speechless, I would have remembered the word to describe the sensation: bliss. I asked her how much for the set, she told me, I paid the price willingly. "This," I thought to myself, "is the best gift I have ever given my wife."

OK, it wasn’t. For those keeping score at home, it wasn’t even the 27th best gift I’ve ever given my wife, and I’ve called her the Lovely Mrs. Y for 27 years now. She unwrapped the package, took one look at the box’s contents and gave me a look I’ll never forget. "Why don’t you just tell me I’m old?" she asked.

Needless to say, I swung and missed that Christmas season (yeah, I said, "Christmas!"). Needless to say, I didn’t come close to hitting the home run I suspected was in the offing. My purported thoughtfulness didn’t take into consideration the fact that my wife actually wanted something else for a gift — anything else, actually. I learned that holiday that gifting isn’t only a science but an art form as well. And I learned that I’m neither a good scientist nor artist.

Fortunately for you, many potential Christmas gift buyers — and shoppers in general — suffer that same malady. That’s why it would serve you well to get to know just what the lovely Mrs. (fill in the last initial) really wants and to stock your shelves accordingly. I recently came across a great Web site that not only has lots and lots of potential garden gifts, but it also posts notes on various gift categories that tell you what the customer is looking for in the way of use and maintenance.

Lest you think my story didn’t have a happy ending, I should note that my wife has used her microwave-warmable collar and complementary back wrap on numerous occasions following long stints teaching a sixth grade science class or working in the garden. She even apologized for her reaction — sort of. "I’m sorry that I hurt your feelings," she said. "But a woman my age doesn’t need to be reminded that she is a woman my age."

I’m thinking about getting her a plaque this year inscribed with those very words. What do you think?

Puzzling pictures
Tab A into Slot B... One of the pictures below is a puzzle. Choose the correct one, and put the product together again. Those who have accomplished said feat previously are often referred to as "gifted" (or "annoying," I can’t remember which).

Consumers rely on directional signs, study shows
Check our *BLOG*

Pick 'n Click
May I take your order?... This list of links to suppliers can help you locate the garden/gift items you need or want — unless, of course, you have to special order them from the planet Zebulon, in which case, you’re up a galactic meteorite shower without a photon booster pack.

Acorn Bird Products:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21067

Allsop, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21051

Alpine Corporation:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21038

Amturf Enterprises:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21004

ANLA:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21007

Bamboo Accents:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21047

Benchmaster by Structural Plastics:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21006

Braun Horticulture:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21036

Carson Industries:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21053

Charlie Cook Associates, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21011

Chas. C. Hart Company:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21024

Clean Air Gardening:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21033

Collier Metal Specialties, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21061

Crescent Trading Group, LLC:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21001

Crescent Trading Group, LLC:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21039

Custom Décor:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21041

Danove Corporation:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21064

Discount Pond Supplies, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21022

EasyPro Pond Products:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21009

Exhart Company:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21005

Fabriscape:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21019

Gardenware:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21010

Gardenware:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21066

Gifts That Bloom:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21042

Horticopia, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21028

Hydrofarm:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21003

Inca Imports:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21020

J. B. Designs, LLC:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21065

Kay Berry:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21046

Maine Bucket Company, Inc., The:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21045

Michael Gordon LTD:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21049

Norcross Safety Products:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21016

Novelty Manufacturing Co.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21014

Ohio Wholesale, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21044

Olds Seed Company:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21013

Par-A-Sol:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21043

Parker Davis Company, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21021

Plantid:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21062

Poly-Tex, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21002

Punxsutawney Glass & Tile Co.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21032

Red Carpet Studios:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21050

Retail Service Company:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21030

Riverside Enterprises:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21017

RSR/Echo Valley:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21012

Ruibal’s Topiary Systems & Ironworks:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21018

SATO Labeling Solutions America, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21029

SeedBallz:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21015

Simpos Software:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21008

Sunlight Supply, Inc.:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21037

Thayer Birding Software:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21026

Tula Hats:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21060

Ver-Mac Industries:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21034

Vitamin Institute:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21031

Walter E. Clark & Son:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21023

Western Nursery & Landscape Association:
Request info • Web site • 1-800-690-1826 ext. 21035

Consumers rely on directional signs, study shows
Check our *BLOG*

Oh, yeah, the riddle answer...
A piano

 
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