What to get for the man who has a green thumb/happy feet?

December 23, 2009 7:37 PM

Gift ideas for a person with different interests than me: gardening and dancing...

Person in question is my Dad (don't worry, we usually exchange presents after Christmas). He's not a big reader but spends a huge amount of time on his garden (flowers mostly) and likes to go dancing with his girlfriend (I am under the impression they do a bunch of different kinds of dance). He's in his 60s. I am kind of clueless on both areas of interest. He lives in the Seattle area, if that makes any difference.

posted by lackutrol to Shopping (12 answers total)

For the dancing: He might appreciate new dance shoes, or a gift certificate to a store that sells them. (Shoe ideas here, here, and here) The bottoms of dance shoes also need to buy scuffed up from time to time so they don't get too slick; you could get him a shoe brush.

Do he and his girlfriend take lessons anywhere? You could get them a month's worth of dance classes at a studio they like.
posted by aka burlap at 8:10 PM on December 23, 2009

*need to be scuffed up, rather.
posted by aka burlap at 8:11 PM on December 23, 2009

I know nothing about the Seattle area, but around here we have a few local Nursuries that are like Disneyland for gardeners. Maybe you could go there and get him some supplies and a gift certificate for the spring. The smaller locally owned store is the type to look for, they really know their stuff and usually have much healthier plants and a better selection.

Another thing as far as gardening goes, maybe you could find him some rare Heirloom seeds. I don't know much about them, but they can be more expensive and harder to get. Maybe some rare seeds and a seed starting kit.

I've heard good things about these Ergonomic Gardening Tools, if he deals with any kind of arthritis or joint pain they might help.
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:15 PM on December 23, 2009

Felco pruners in a belt holster. Best pruners you can get! Try here and here.
posted by northernlightgardener at 8:16 PM on December 23, 2009

What kind of gardening does he do? I love gardening, but I tend to kill any plants that come in contact with me, so my suggestions might not be great. However, I love the idea of upside down planters. I've heard this is an excellent way to grow tomatoes. Does he live in a cold climate? Maybe an indoor potting bench would be nice so he can grow things year-round. He could use a potting bench outdoors as well, if he likes.

as far as the dance thing goes, maybe a good pair of dancing shoes?
posted by lexicakes at 8:16 PM on December 23, 2009

Gift subscription to Organic Gardening Magazine? Maybe a nice vase filled with narcissus bulbs for forcing? Those would be on my gift list, as a gardener.
posted by memewit at 9:45 PM on December 23, 2009

Jackson & Perkins are pricey but have a beautiful selection of roses. I haven't bought anything in quite a while but when I have, the plants are really healthy and grow well. The healthy part is important because you can get really cool stuff mail order that you'll have trouble finding local but some nurseries send iffy plants. If your dad likes roses, he'd probably like a gift certificate from them.

http://www.jacksonandperkins.com/gardening/GP/homepage/NewGardenRoses
posted by stray thoughts at 10:12 PM on December 23, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks folks, and keep 'em coming...
posted by lackutrol at 10:12 PM on December 23, 2009

We just got my father-in-law a pot with fresh herbs at a local greenhouse - they let me choose the herbs and potted them up with plant food for $22 total. I chose mint (for mint juleps, which he mentioned recently), rosemary and thyme. They also had premade herb bowls. So nice to have fresh herbs in the winter and be able to smell them and cook with them.

One year my dad got me an herbal vinegar kit. I can't find it now, but it was basically three tall glass bottles with a pack of corks (try a Pier One or brewery supply store), and a booklet on making herbal vinegars. Paired with the fresh herbs, the book and bottles might be an interesting gift.

Here's one book idea. You could also get a culinary vinegar book as opposed to medicinal.

Gardeners often appreciate salves for dry hands, or a special soap to scrub away dirt.

And keeping with a plant theme, but relating to dance: to relieve sore muscles, an herbal pack that can be popped in the microwave. I have just about everything on this page, absolutely wonderful. They sell them at our local mall at a kiosk and the sales people will often give steep discounts if you buy more than one product. The band could be wrapped around a sore knee or the slippers used for sore feet.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 3:39 AM on December 24, 2009

I've bought nice gardening gifts (well, some for myself) from here. I do a lot of gardening, so I really like this tool; they also have very nice gloves and I really like this too.
posted by violette at 6:40 AM on December 24, 2009

Kinda boring, I know, but my gardener father-in-law loves these hose nozzles:

Dramm Fogg-It (via the Cool Tools blog, which is seriously awesome)
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:40 AM on December 24, 2009

My father loves using a Japanese Gardening Knife when he works in the garden. You can search by the term "Hori Hori" and find them. Short video on the knife. To top it off, you get a cool holster to wear.
posted by Argyle at 8:37 AM on December 24, 2009