Well, for the moment I have all my teeth, and I don't need ties, shirts, socks and other useful but predictable gifts. But there are some things for the garden I'd like.

Books Top the List

On my Christmas list are books. Every time I go to the book store, I'm drawn to the gardening-book section. I won't put any of the northern writers on my list, but not out of any residual feeling from the Civil War.

I've just had my fill of comments about cool springs, illustrations of lovely, friable soil, and pictures of lilacs and head lettuce. I want books written by Southern garden writers. The ones written by the people on latitude south of Rabun County just may have a better grasp on our climate, pest problems, soil type and growing conditions.

Tools That Will Last

I want tools that will last. Don't give me those wimpy little hand tools with painted flowers on them. I want heavy duty ones that endure. Cheap tools are just that, and likely to bend just as I'm opening ground, as daylight wanes, for a bag of caladiums. I want rakes and shovels whose heads will stay on the handles.

I don't want the accessories – Japanese gardening pants, hose carriers in the shape of frogs, or clever garden signs that proclaim my garden the stopping place for the world-weary traveler. Give those to my wife. I want stuff I can use.

Gardening Promissory Notes

When my children were younger, they gave me gardening promissory notes as gifts. Under a gardening chore was the childish scribble, "Daddy, just let me know when you want me to do this."

This is such an unusual gift, so personal, and it always meant so much to me. I probably didn't collect on some of them (Hmm, I wonder if it is too late?) but they were all the more delightful because they gave me an opportunity to spend more time with my growing gardeners.

Put Some Thought Into It

Whatever you want as a gift or want to give as a gift to someone, put some thought into it. Is it useable? Or will it just sit there? A load of compost for a gardener is really not a bad idea.

Now that I really think about it, all I want for Christmas is a normal gardening year. I've been gardening in Georgia for almost 20 years and am still looking for that "normal season."

But then I might miss the challenge. And that reminds me – given our rain deficit, a drip irrigation system would be nice.