north Snore

NEWS photo Terry Peters

4. CHRISTMAS gifts for the garden enthusiast on your list could include an interesting (and
unique) figurine like this ceramic pig.

DISPLAY SALE!

Everything must go!
Final sale Days!

Friday, December 6, 1996 — North Shore News — 13

THE Christmas

season is rapidly
approaching and if

you are having

trouble with your

gift list, why not
choose something
related to the gar-

den for all the peo-

ple with green thumbs?

“Green thumbs” come in many
shades and not all garden gifts will be
appropriate for the people on your
list. Think about the type of garden-
ing they like to do. Are they indoor
plant people or experienced vegetable
gardeners? Maybe they are weekend
gardeners that just love to putter in
the soil, as much for therapy as for
the joy of growing.

Basic tools are always a good
choice and quality will be appreciar-
ed. Pruning clippers (secateurs),
trowels or hand forks are basics for
anyone working in the garden. Other
small items such as folding pruning
saws and bulb planters will always
come in handy.

Long-handled tools such as shov-
els, rakes and cultivators may not be
glamorous but will be appreciated by
a new gardener. Check the size and
weight of the tool and make sure it is
appropriate for the person you are
buying for.

Small plastic pressure sprayers and
rotary drop fertilizer spreaders are
now available for the home gardener.
They are relatively inexpensive and
make the tasks a lot easier.

If basic tools do not appeal to you
as gifts, perhaps a garden accessory
would. An extra watering can or a
selection of dish trays to catch the
overflow may fill a need. How about
some garden gloves for that spring
assault on the blackberry patch or a
foain pad to act as a cushion and
keep the knees dry. -

There are some interesting new
tote bags on the market that can take
the place of a wheel barrow when it
comes to hauling leaves or light
debris. They are particularly useful in
inaccessible areas like rockeries.
Smaller tote bags and garden aprons
for carrying small tools, string, plant
labels, etc. may be ideal for some gar-

TRE TRE nm

‘Capilano Mall:

ER SUITE

¢« Head & foot rails
2 night stands
7 drawer dresser

Wing mirror or
shaker mirror

Headbosid & mirror not
sown

enocty as

Choice of 10 different
stains at no extra charge

for 1997!

Warehouse Sale - Saturday only, Nov. 30
270 East Ist in back lane

Sterling Kitchens
903 W. 6th Si.
North Van.

960-9090

MARINE DRIVE

iving for green thumbs

deners. Any gardener
who has perennials will
probably need garden
stakes and there are a
number of plastic- coat-
ed metal stakes avail-
atle. Some are single
while others are inter-
locking or sold as weld-
ed units.

For the gardener who
closely watches the weather, a simple
plastic rain gauge, a min-max ther-
mometer or rustic weather vane
might be the ideal gift.

If the basics do not appeal to you
as gifts there are always a number of
novelty items to chvose from. Bird
feeders and bird baths can create a lot
of activity and add interest to a gar-
den. An abundance of birds will also
reduce the number of harmful insects
in a garden.

Speaking of pests, you may want
to get one of your more squeamish
friends one of the new “slug snatch-
ers,” an over-sized pair of wooden
tweezers for picking up the slimy crit-
ters.

Concrete gnomes, animals and
traditional statuary may not be your
idea of a garden gift but there are
some attractive items available. In my
opinion, you can pass on pink flamin-
gos.

Books are always a timely gift and
this season’s selection is better than it
has ever been. The new gardener may
need an all purpose book that covers
a wide variety of topics and can be
used for general reference. More
experienced gardeners might appreci-
ate books on specific tupics or ones
that are more detailed or instructive.

Garden books published in
England or western Canada are more
appropriate because they are written
for our West Coast marine climate.

A garden magazine subscription is
also a great gift that will provide on
going enjoyment.

Check your locai nursery, garden
shop or visit one of the specialty
stores such as The Avant Gardener,
Lee Valley Tools, Bricks ‘N’ Blocks
and Dig This. Garden stores will have
some books but you may also want to
check your favorite book store or call
Cavendish Books for a wider selec-
tion or particular tide.

grows

All for just!

FURNITURE TRADITIONS zi ra

. Capilano Mall (next to Sears) a -
"Visit Our Meu. location in Brentwood Mall (second floor)

Allow 2-3 weeks delivery.
Expires Dec. 22/96

pr a
_291-6111-