About Gardening
Gardens come in all shapes and sizes, from the humble back yard to the lavish landscaped grounds of a stately home. Whatever the scale, a garden provides the simplest of pleasures, that of relaxing in a tranquil space surrounded by the beauty of nature.
Those with green fingers can fill their gardens with the fragrant flowers of a beautiful rose bush, golden sunflowers or elegant orchids. Planting a fine oak tree, walnut or horse chestnut can provide a legacy for generations to come. For the food lovers amongst us, you can create a kitchen garden complete with vegetables, figs, pomegranates and pumpkins, and even Moroccan mint tea! For the more adventurous cooks, the possibilities are endless, from a variety of herbs, olives and chilli plants, through to a Kaffir Lime, an essential in Thai green curry!
For people with less of a desire to get their hands dirty, you can get someone else to do the work, with a garden design service! Even if you are suffering from a severe garden deficiency, you can still experience the joys of the outdoors, by admiring somebody else’s garden! A leisurely lunch in the grounds of a country house, such as Swinton Park, is the perfect cure for anyone missing their own outdoor space.
Facts About Gardening
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According to scientists, a single acre of forest is able to absorb 6 tons of carbon dioxide, and emits four tons of oxygen. This is enough oxygen to keep 18 people breathing for a year!
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Garden Gnomes are officially banned at the Chelsea Flower Show! The pointy-hatted creatures were deemed in ‘bad taste’, and so blacklisted from the annual Royal Horticultural Show event. Some exhibitors, however, were suspected of trying to sneak their gnomes in, and organisers are now on constant ‘gnome watch’.
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The most leaves ever found on a clover stem is 18! The Guinness World Record breaking plant was discovered by Japanese farmer Shigeo Obara in 2002. It is thought that he may now be the luckiest man in the world.
Gardening Experiences
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Almost any garden, if you see it at just the right moment, can be confused with paradise.
Henry Mitchell, Writer and Gardener
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Grow your own grapevines in your back garden, and you can harvest your own vintage wine crop! With this beautiful rustic gift you will receive both a red and a white grapevine, as well as full instructions on how to grow juicy grapes and turn them into delicious wine.
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There is no nicer way to spend a summer afternoon than sat enjoying a lovely lunch in an English country garden. One time Country Life Gardener of the Year, Susan Cunliffe-Lister, will take you on a tour of the stunning, expansive gardens, showing you all of the season’s beautiful blooms and explaining her plans for restoring the grounds of this grand country house.
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Train a Farmer (coming soon)
With this fantastic gift from Oxfam Unwrapped, you will be helping improve conditions for some of the world’s poorest people. Your present will train a farmer in the newest techniques to get the most out of the land, creating food and income not only for himself but for the whole community. A gift with true heart.
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Customer Reviews of Gardening Gifts
My children (two and five years old) are really into the garden at the moment, so for a treat we bought them a ‘Grow Your Own Vegetable Garden’ box. It was such a fun thing to do as a family, and they loved planting the seeds and watering them. They are so excited about watching their carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and spring onions grow and can’t wait to eat them!
Kendra Jefferson, Hawick
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I always struggle for gifts for my big sister, as she’s very much the girl who has everything. So this year I bought her an Oxfam ‘Plant an Allotment’ gift (as most of my presents end up in the charity shops anyway!) She was over the moon, and said it was the most useful present I’d ever given her! Thanks for the idea, Buyagift!
Aycea Robbins, Balham
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For my best friend’s wedding present I bought her ‘The Box of Roses’. I hate buying off wedding lists, they are so impersonal, and I thought this would be a bit different. The bath salts and essence are apparently half used up already (I’m not asking!), and they’ve planted the rose bush in their back garden as a reminder of their special day.
Megan Jacobs, Aberystwyth
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