:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/rs-50-best-christmas-gifts-for-moms-of-2022-tout-536be34f66cb4a87a41e421357352e1f.jpg "8 garden gift ideas for the person who has everything")
It's gift season, and for the person who has everything, what better gift than something home-made for the garden. A recent workshop organized by UC Master Gardeners especially for Master Gardeners was a lovely session on gifts made with herbs and the like. To whet your appetite and get bounties in your garden, consider these ideas from the Herb Study Group and more.
Laurel crown or laurel: Noble laurel or laurel is considered one of the oldest cultivated plants. It is a fragrant evergreen plant of the flower family. Using the vine crown or tent frame as a guide and support, small twigs can easily be used to outline the shape of the crown. Berries and bows add a festive touch and make a great gift for chefs or as hanging decorations. Laurel can also be added to a bunch of evergreen boughs to hang over your front door. Another consideration for gardeners is a small bay plant. It just keeps on giving.
Pomander Orange Balls: Especially with so many citrus fruits bearing fruit in the days of December, a good kid treat craft couldn't be simpler than whole grains, oranges or other citrus, teeth and paper towels. Simply pierce the fruit with a toothpick, making a pattern as you go, and insert the nail into the hole. They will make a great hostess gift and will dry over time in 4-6 weeks.
Homemade vanilla extract. Another simple gift you can make is a homemade vanilla extract made with your favorite vodka or alcohol. "Vodka is typically used to make vanilla extract because it doesn't add any extra flavor, but any 35%+ABV/70+ ABV solution will do (you can experiment and find what you like; common choices are bourbon or rum), according to Beanilla.com (https://beanilla.com) https://www.beanilla.com/blog/homemade-vanilla-extract#recipe).The ratio is one ounce of vanilla bean by weight to one ounce of alcohol by volume.Place in a nice bottle, wait a few weeks , shake once or twice a week, and then enjoy or give to your cooking friends.
Nuts: Cut and dried seasonal fruits make a great gift for anyone. I just bought a food dehydrator on sale and hope to dry persimmons this Christmas. You don't have to go far in San Joaquin County to find a fruit stand selling local produce or, if you're lucky, a tree full of fruit.
Herb Butter: How about some good homemade bread and herb butter as a sweet treat? Dried basil, oregano, tarragon, Italian parsley, black pepper or rosemary are good herb oils. Just soften the butter at room temperature and add your favorite herbs. Wrap the butter again or in the shape of a small plate and put it in the fridge. There are many recipe ideas available online at Spark. There are many buttercream molds available online to add to a gift basket or give as a gift.
Bakes, Pickles and Jams: The UC Master Preserver website is full of great gift ideas for fruits, vegetables and herbs from the garden. See https://mfp.ucanr.edu/Resources_/Recipes_and_Information/Recipe_Card_Library/.
Dried flowers: Wreaths, wall hangings and baskets can be decorated with store-bought or dried flowers at home. Pressed flowers can be used in bookmarks, candles and even decorations. A quick online scan throws up rabbit holes that can be explored for more ideas.
For Birds: Homemade Costumes Another fun idea for kids. Simple recipe: 1 cup shortening (like Crisco), 1 cup crunchy peanut butter, 2 cups oatmeal, 1 cup cornmeal, and 2 cups bird food. Melt the shortening and peanut butter together in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Do not boil. Remove from heat. Add oats, stir. Mix the bird food and cornmeal together. Pack well into a container to form the "bricks" of the package. Wrap it in aluminum foil. Place in the freezer overnight. Carefully remove the solid fat from the container and feed it to the birds. If you are a bird lover, consider how many birds are in your garden in February.
Happy gifts from your garden!
Have a gardening question? Contact the UC San Joaquin Master Gardeners at 209-953-6112. More information is available on our website at ucanr.edu/sjmg.
This article originally appeared on The Record: 8 Holiday Gift Ideas From Your Northern California Garden.
