SIL likes her gardening - anything I could buy her for christmas perhaps??

[mckenzie]

I'm really stuck on what to get SIL for Christmas and someone has suggested something for her garden which i know she loves. For reasons too long to explain here i haven't seen her garden for about 8 years and although DH probably has, he can't tell me anything about it. It's behind a 3 bed terrace house in outer London to give you a guide to its size.
Any ideas please for a plant, small tree or something else. In the region of £25 ideally.

TIA

difficult - how about something smaller and some vouchers.

How about a seed box and then you could buy lots of different packets of seeds to fill it with.

like this one

That is a good website for other ideas too.

How about a book or some vouchers to spend?

This is a good city garden book with some lovely photos and ideas
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1844006115/ref=s9_sima_gw_s2_p14_t1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=cente r-1&pfrdr=07AJH0F82WFW9KF8WW3A&pfrdt=101&pfrdp=467198433&pfrdi=468294

Perhaps vouchers from a good garden supplier, this is one of the best
www.woottensplants.co.uk/

It was her birthday just last month Lizs and I bought her vouchers then. QandA - thank you for that link. It's given me some ideas.

I got my Mum a ceramic bumble bee attractor thingy. (bsically, a hive shaped pot that bees can keep warm in and be attracted to your flowers.) Bout £25 from Amazon.

Try Sarah Raven for really nice seeds and bulbs
I'm always happy to get stuff from here

Another nice website for gardeners
www.gardentrading.co.uk/home.vc?gclid=CJat_srE0J4CFZQA4wodzRA2rw

I got my mum something similar to this and she loves it. She said its really handy as otherwise she always forgets where she's put the tools down!!

IF its a smallish garden, don't go mad on the seeds or she won't have anywhere to plant them. Also, if you are particualr about your varieties, it might be annoying to get F1 Tomato flippin Moneymaker in your stocking.

Bulbs are great, there are some nice Amaryllis around at the moment, and complete with vouichers. LOok at Sarah Raven for inspiration, but her intersting amaryliis are sold out and all the fancy packaging bumps up the prices.

Like the tool bag tilly.
I would be happy to get a nice kneeling pad (have seen pretty ones in J Lewis) or a belt (rather than a bag) where you can stick your secateurs etc.

I wouldn't get seeds as you dont know if she likes veg gardening and if she does, as cat says, she may have favourite varities.

Really nice gardening gloves are good, sort of thing you dont buy yourself.
I was given these and they are fab, warm, thick and comfy
www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/product/Footwear%20and%20Clothing_Gold%20Leaf%20Gloves/GDN-31 1.htm

I knew i'd get sorted if i asked on here! thank you so much. I'm torn between the bag from John lewis (or the little seat like thing too), the gloves from Harrod or something frivolous from Sarah Raven. And I've now got some ideas for MIL's birthday next year too. Thanks again everybody.

Some nice things on here too, if you've not already chosen. We've got my mum a few things in the past and she's loved them.

I'd second really good gardening gloves, as even if you've got some they wear out. I find that all the Showa range gloves (which Horrid Horticultural also sell) are very good - but make sure that you know what size gloves your SiL takes as it makes a huge difference having them fit right (the advantage of the Showa is that they come from size 6 upwards). The tool bag thing looks good though too.

I definitely wouldn't buy plants or seeds for a keen gardener unless they either have unlimited space or you are very certain as to what they want.

These copper tools are absolutely gorgeous.
The trowel is fabuous to use - I know it seems expensive for a single tool but it is a great gift

Gift membership of the RHS?