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Some interesting holiday gift ideas for gardeners

During the typically drab and dreary months of winter, most gardeners spend their time searching for inspiration in seed catalogs and planning their spring planting activities. Give the gardener on your list a ray of sunshine this winter. These garden-inspired gifts are certain to light up their holiday.

• Good gloves: Finding good quality gardening gloves is a tough task, especially if you’re a woman. Many garden gloves are (OK - I’ll say it) just too GIRLY) made of pretty patterned cloth that doesn’t protect your hands. Step up to leather gloves and chances are your trying to fit into a pair that was made for a man. West County Gardener? Work Gloves are the perfect stocking stuffer. These gloves were designed by a champion cyclist and look and feel like athletic gloves. They’re made of flexible stretch nylon with reinforced, padded palm and fingers. Choose from great colors like Plum, Stem and Gold. They protect well and can be thrown in the washer and dryer after a day in the dirt. In sizes from extra small to XXL you’ll be sure to find the perfect fit at a great price - $19.95. www.westcountygardener.com.

• A new house: I’ve always wanted a greenhouse. But, time, space and expense issues were always a concern. I’ve found a remedy with Flower Houses. These portable, pop-up green houses come in a wide variety of sizes and they’re very affordable. The SeedHouse Jr. goes for around $25. You can even purchase your DreamHouse for under $300. Go to FlowerHouses.com and click on your choice of greenhouse. You can order direct from the manufacturer or click on retailers for a store near you.

• Multi-season shovel: Toro’s new Power Shovel Plus is more than just an electric shovel. It’s a power broom and a mini-snowthrower all in one. If you have a small area of snow to clear, this is the machine for you. The Power Shovel Plus takes on snow as deep as 6-inches, throwing it up to 20-feet out of the way. It’s easy to maneuver, weighing on 13 pounds. A quick turn of a wrench transforms the machine into a powerful electric broom, perfect for sweeping out the garage, deck or driveway. The Power Shovel Plus is available at Toro dealers and The Home Depot for around $139. Check out www.Toro.com and enter Power Shovel Plus in the search section.

• Coveralls for her: Gardening and home improvement projects can require an addition to your wardrobe. Forget baggy sweats and paint covered t-shirts. Check out Rosies Coveralls for women. Developed by a do-it-herselfer in need of suitable clothing for her new welding hobby, Rosies are designed to be “strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.” They fit over your regular clothing, with lots of roomy pockets and removable kneepads. Rosies are machine washable and come in great, but not overly-girly colors such as Blue Indigo and Black Floral. About $75 at www.rosiescoveralls.com and select retailers.

— Kathleen Hennessy

(Kathleen Hennessy is an avid gardener and weekend home-improver. She has been writing about home and garden topics for more than ten years, and currently serves at the content manager for the outdoor beautification website, yardcare.com.)