It's that time of year again when we all start scratching our heads trying to think of original Christmas gift ideas for loved ones. Why not try a simple, inexpensive and environmentally friendly option this festive season?

It's that time of year again when we all start scratching our heads trying to think of original Christmas gift ideas for loved ones. Why not try a simple, inexpensive and environmentally friendly option this festive season?

Look out for mixed bowls or baskets filled with indoor plants such as the coleus, kalanchoe, African violet or love palm. Christmas poinsettias, ferns, chrysanthemums and peace lilies remain firm favourites. The red poinsettia is the traditional Christmas flower, but also look out for pink and lime green varieties this festive season.

If you are thinking of green Christmas presents for kids, try little animal pots that grow hair, or gardening equipment, boots, gloves, those cool seed germinators, a worm farm, the Jiffy propagation products or even bug boxes.

Fill a gardener’s stocking with twine, labels, marking pens, secateurs and packets of seeds or a basket with sunscreen, organic soap, hand lotion and garden gloves. A moisture meter is useful for checking the moisture level of soil in containers, and a rain gauge will accurately measure the amount of rain. Foot scrapers are useful for muddy gardening shoes.

Bird enthusiasts can never have too many birdbaths, bird feeders and bird tables. Nesting boxes or sisal nesting logs that can be attached high up in a tree where birds will be safe and sheltered from rain will also be appreciated. For more information go to www.lifeisagarden.co.za

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