Nature-Inspired Gift Ideas

There’s no getting around it, it’s the gift-giving season. Each year it seems to get a bit more challenging as we get older and everyone has enough candles and tchotchkes (but never enough fudge). Toss in concepts like buy more made-in-America products, support small businesses, and go easy on the environment and what’s a girl to do?! 

Well, I do have some ideas for the gardener or nature enthusiast on your list. [At right are some of the gifts my friends have given me.]

Plants are always popular with gardeners and divisions from your garden make memorable gifts. Pair it with a durable plant tag complete with Latin and common names and on the reverse put your name and the date. Buy a set of metal labels, use one, and give them the extras too.

Garden signs (like the one above) make nice gifts, can be very personal, and never die for lack of water. Find dozens of hand-crafted ideas on places like Etsy or get inspired to make your own. You can even find signs that illustrate your friend’s garden is pesticide free.

Gift memberships to organizations such as the Georgia Native Plant Society, the Georgia Botanical Society, Georgia Audubon, The Xerces Society, The Nature Conservancy, Georgia State Parks Annual Pass, and many others help your friend get more involved. Most of these groups have tangible benefits such as monthly, quarterly, and annual publications in addition to supporting their mission. Get them a t-shirt to wrap up with your gift announcement. 

Those same organizations accept donations in honor of your recipient. Other organizations that you might consider include Georgia DNR (tell them it is for the non-game division to support plant conservation), the Trust for Public Land, the Georgia Piedmont Land Trust, Southern Conservation Trust, the Georgia Conservancy, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, and many more local groups. Get them a tote bag or coffee mug to commemorate the gift.

Some of those same organizations also have online stores to purchase gifts. You can also purchase gifts and memberships to local nature centers and museums. The Caterpillar Lab is one of my favorite places for not just beautiful and unique gifts but ones which are also supportive of their mission.

Books still make fantastic gifts and there are some great nature-focused ones out there. For the beginner native plant enthusiast, one of Doug Tallamy’s books would be inspiring. The more experienced gardener might appreciate learning more about identifying pollinators, or give a child a book that celebrates native plants. My most recent read was Saving the Wild South.

Photo Source

Of course money is always good and gift certificates for small nurseries (pick the Georgia nurseries labeled ‘primarily native’ at this site) will illustrate that you took the time to find a great place to get lovingly grown and local plants (really appreciated by nature lovers!). Wrap up your gift with brown craft paper and decorate it with leaves, pine cones, drawings, or other natural materials tied up with fabric ribbon or twine.

Gifts of time are especially appreciated by older folks who need help in the garden or just appreciate your company. Create your own gift certificate with messages like “Will plant your new plants for you or Weed your garden” and package it up with a few tea sachets and a message that you can enjoy a cup of tea together after the work is done.

I hope that some of these ideas work for you. If you have other, nature-related ideas, please share them in the comments!