If you have been reading this Greener View column for a while, you know I have a “glove” affair with warm clothes. However, gardening is mostly done in the hot and sunny summer, so clothes that keep us protected from the sun are also very useful gift ideas.
In the past few months, several people I know, including my mom, have had skin cancer and precancerous areas removed from their faces and necks. I know many women don’t like wearing hats, especially baseball caps as they often don’t fit well with long hair.
The Sun Seeker hat from Sunday Afternoons shades the face with a huge four-inch brim. The back of the hat has long cloth ties that allow for the perfect fit while also creating a ponytail hole. The cloth hat packs flat, making it easy to take with you. It isn’t just for gardening; it can go to the beach or the ball game too.
Another good gardening hat made by Sunday Afternoons is the Sport Hat. Many hats include a flap that hangs down on the back of the neck. They may fold up and attach to the back of the hat, but that can look awkward, and the flap can catch on branches as you walk around in the woods or garden. The Sport Hat’s flap folds into the hat, so when it is not in use, the hat looks like a normal summer hat. It has a four-inch brim and side ventilation. Find out more at sundayafternoons.com.
The Muck Boot Company makes sandals, shoes and boots for men, women and kids. I wear the Muckster II ankle boot. They are cool in hot weather and warm in cool weather due to the inner neoprene layer. They also have an airmesh lining that releases sweat.
They make boots for any kind of outdoor activity and all weather conditions. When necessary, they are easy to wash off. They are available in many stores or at www.muckbootcompany.com.
While amaryllis may not be the most popular Christmas flower, it is commonly grown for its flowers in the winter. Amaryllis is sometimes used to represent strength and determination, so the Huntington’s disease community has adopted it to represent hope and celebrate the advancements in HD research. The Huntington’s Disease Society of America is selling amaryllis bulbs as a fundraiser. To find out more go to https://hdsa.org/shop/flowers-for-hdsa/.
Does someone you know like mushrooms? How about unusual mushrooms? How about growing their own mushrooms? Field and Forest Products sells many different kinds of mushroom kits, but the easiest ones are the Table Top Farms. With nine different kinds, from the almost-normal shiitake and oyster mushrooms to the unusual Pioppini and black reishi mushrooms, the kits can grow up to two pounds of ready-to-eat mushrooms. Find the kits at fieldforest.net.
Since it is still winter and gardeners will be getting outside for other activities and maybe even some light gardening, we still want warm hands. Battery-heated gloves are becoming very popular but because of the delicate nature of the wires in the fingers, I don’t know of any that can be used as gardening gloves. Besides having heated gloves and mittens, the Ororo company may have the best solution. They have a heated, insulated hand warmer that you can place both hands into. There are also pockets for storing your phone and other essentials. Find out more at ororowear.com.
