C.L. Fornari

C.L. Fornari is a terrific (and funny) garden writer, broadcaster and speaker who lives on Cape Cod. Below are her five most and five least favorite garden gifts. Your input, valued readers, is always welcome!

Best:

• A gift certificate to a nursery.

• Cobra Head weeding tool.

• Several pairs of cool, lightweight but tough gloves such as Sun Grips by garden works.

• Plant Cam – outdoor, time-release digital camera for recording flowers opening or gardens growing www.wingscapes.com

• A load of composted manure. Gold for the garden!

Worst:

• A houseplant – gardeners want to choose their own.

• Plant labels – They’re never for something you need labeled… we can remember “Basil” and “Thyme” – where are the labels for the ones we forget –  Dicliptera and the like?

• Landscape fabric – not that anyone would actually give this as a gift, but it’s a product that I think shouldn’t be sold.

• Poisons – pesticides make lousy gifts.

• Windchimes – sound, or the desire for the lack of, in the garden is very personal. Unless someone says they want a windchime, leave that one at the store.