Gift ideas for 86yo man

[Frozenone]

I would be interested in some ideas for my 86yo FIL please.

He loves his garden but has all the tools he needs. He is not fussed about garden ornaments or feeding the birds etc - he just loves growing plants.

He likes to paint pictures but has all the art supplies he needs.

He doesn’t read anymore, and isn’t fussed about garden magazines, but watches a lot of gardening programmes on TV and YouTube.

He doesn’t really have any hobbies other than the garden and painting, but as I say he pretty much has everything he needs for those interests (and we’ve bought loads over the years).

The last few years we’ve done a hamper of nice foods, and included gifts like wool hat, thermal garden gloves, and a gardening magazine etc.

Bit stumped yet again. He’s not the kind of person who is into material things which is why we changed to doing a hamper but I wonder if he thinks, oh no not again.. 🙄😀

If he can travel, how about taking him to a place of interest that has a lovely garden or art gallery for lunch or afternoon tea?

If he is able to enjoy it , tickets to a garden show , dependant on where you are in the country
Chelsea , tatton park , Southport are ones that spring to mind
facilitate it for him , lifts there and back , afternoon tea somewhere ?

Bonsai tree. Venus fly trap.

A terrarium or two?

Plant up some indoor bulbs now (hyacinths or narcissi, or an amaryllis or two) - They'll be growing well by Xmas and can be planted out in the garden in the spring.

Gardens of the World calendar
Luxury slippers
Sponsor the National Plant Collection https://www.plantheritage.org.uk/how-can-you-help/sponsor-the-national-plant-collections/

Is there something he wears frequently that has seen bettet days? Dressing gown, pyjamas, jumper?

I think a hamper of things you know he enjoys - favourite biscuits, sweets, tea, jam, chutney, cakes,can of beer, little bottle of wine etc would be preferable to something he wouldn't use. I wouldn't worry about having done it already and if he seems to enjoy it, can be repeated. You could pop in a home made voucher for a garden centre trip to include a meal so he is getting a gift of time as well.

Cashmere jumper to keep him toasty?

Could you take him to a garden? Something like a weekend near Bodnant Garden could feel very special - expensive too, I realise.

Take him out for a meal and spend time with him.

DM announced she didn't want any more gifts of things , please, just before her 80th birthday. She's spent the last few years giving stuff away (sanely!)

I'm 30 years younger. I'm beginning to get where she's coming from. DM and my's birthday are each a few weeks before/after Christmas. We now take each other out for lunch in February.

I think trip to a great garden or botanic garden which others have suggested is a great idea - depending how near you are to one it could be a trip with lunch or an overnight.

Gift voucher for a local garden centre?
National trust membership?

Echo the day out, anything that's an experience and/or consumable. DH buys the PIL a food hamper full of little bits and pieces, some are a success and some less so but they love opening it.

You can buy puzzle books on Amazon, they are called born in {year of birth} and all the answers are things not just of his year of birth but of events/stuff that he would know throughout his life. I got one for FIL and he loved it.

My identikit octogenarian LOVED both a subscription to The Oldie magazine and Turtle Doves cashmere wrist warmers, which are great for arthritic hands.

Audiable subscription
National trust membership
Tickets to an event he'd be interested in

I can never have enough gardening gloves so a couple extra well-fitting pairs for when you put your finger through the end are always useful. Leather long gloves for rose pruning and dealing with prickles are also helpful.

Exfoliating gardeners soap is helpful, as are nail brushes.

You can never have enough plant labels.

Naice teabags for a cuppa after a cold day in the garden.

My similar aged Granny enjoyed a trip to watch Gardener's Question Time being recorded if you can swing that.

An Alexa?

I think an experience would be a lovely idea. Either visiting a garden, or art lessons maybe.

If you wanted to physically give him something, you could name a rose for him.