Garden Book Gift Ideas

ready for gift-giving, these are some of the gardening-related boois I’m giving this holiday. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Garden Book Gift Ideas

Blame my grandmother. Every Christmas she would give us vintage books, some lovely first editions. We learned to appreciate the illustrations because at that time we didn't read English. It was my job as the oldest to make up a story to go with the images. That developed into a Christmas Eve tradition of opening one book to read. I still do that to this day.
What am I going to read this year?
I will have to decide from among three gardening books, all by authors I was lucky enough to meet earlier this year.
I am also giving these books as gifts so if you're lucky enough to get one, please be surprised.

•   Susan Betz wrote Herbal Houseplants, $12.67, a guide on how to raise herbs inside. Susan has been actively involved in growing and using herbs to educate the public about gardening and the natural world for more than 35 years.

•   Shelley Cramm wrote My Father is the Gardener,  $40, with lovely illustrations. She loves to see the ancient words of Scripture come alive in today’s gardens. Her background includes a Master of Architecture, work in architectural and garden design, and leadership of Bible study groups.
 
•   Michael Perry, AKA Mr. Plant Geek, wrote Hortus Curious $12.95, a sampling of weird and wacky plants with fun illustrations. I was making up stories without even thinking about it. He's from the UK where has a TV show. He's been  involved in gardening and plants since he was just five years old. 

•   Christy Wilhelmi AKA Gardenerd, wrote Garden Variety $12.97 is set in a California community garden and includes gardening tips. Christy runs a garden consulting business and features weekly videos and podcasts.

•   What about the beekeeping books? Those are books I wrote to help beekeepers get a good foundation to beginning beekeeping A Beekeeper’s Diary; Self-Guide to Keeping Bees $34.95 and a helpful guide on how to start a bee club $34.95, both on Amazon and from other book sellers. I'm a certified master beekeeper, master gardener and award-winning author. Autographed copies from here. $69.95 for both. You can also buy them at Bluebird Gardens autographed individually. I just heard Bee Club Basics is going to be used to establish a new club in Wichita, Kansas!

Order by December 15 to ensure Christmas delivery.

To personalize your book gifts, you can make magnetic bookmarks and add a supply of homemade cookies. Yumm!

Charlotte

Gardener Book Gift Ideas

Two complimentary books to raise your own fruit. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Gardener Book Gift Ideas

Books have been a favorite holiday gift so here are three that are excellent choices alone, or as a complimentary gift set.

Let’s start with how to plant mini fruit trees and berries, then get bees to pollinate them. Christy Wilhelmi's "Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden" and my award-winning "A Beekeeper's Diary Self-Guide to Keeping Bees 2nd Edition" make a helpful combination gift!

I met Christy through an international gardening group and loved the description of her gardening website as for "people with a healthy sense of humor about their obsession with organic gardening." 

Christy's book "Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden" ($27.99 US) will guide the reader on how to add, and manage, dwarf fruit trees. I myself have more than 60 dwarf fruit trees growing outside, and another handful inside in pots. Those tropicals inside go out on the deck during the growing season and are swallowtail butterfly caterpillar food, well,  besides giving me fresh fruit. By the way, Christy also has several other excellent gardening books, a fun podcast, classes and gardening guides at Gardenerd.com.

Now if you know of someone who wants to get a start on beekeeping, my award-winning workbook and beginning beekeeping book "A Beekeeper's Diary Self-Guide to Keeping Bees 2nd Edition" ($34.95 US hard cover, $24.95 ebook) covers the most common native bees. It also offers a step-by-step guide on how to keep honey bees. For the gardeners, it has a whole chapter on planting for pollinators and has been a popular read for those curious about what it takes to be a beekeeper even if they don’t follow up.

The book has been approved by the Great Plains Master Beekeeping program as offering scientifically-based best management practices.

Writer’s Digest Review

Don’t take my word for it, here is what a Writer’s Digest judge said about the diary November 21, 2022:

“This book is exemplary in its structure, organization, and pacing. The structure of the chapters/parts aid in a compelling organization of the story or information. The pacing is even throughout and matches the tone/genre of the book….

This book is exemplary in production quality and cover design. The physical materials, printing, and binding are of professional quality and traditional industry standards. The typesetting and page layout (including illustrations, images, or figures) are easy to follow, thoughtfully designed, and error free. The cover appears to be professionally designed and is compellingly related to the content/genre of the book. This book is exemplary in its choice of topic or theme of the story. It is unique but still has strong appeal for most readers in its intended genre…

This book is exemplary in its voice and writing style. It has a unique voice, and the writing style is consistent throughout. The style and tone are also consistent with or will appeal to readers of the intended genre…

This book is well researched and well written. While the lessons in the pages work well, the added pages for notes, etc., really help make this a great interactive book on beekeeping, as well as maintaining a healthy yard.”

Free Bee Book Mark

For a limited time, I will include a metal bee bookmark when purchased from my website. You've been forewarned: cats may find the bee charm bookmark irresistible. (Found the stolen bookmark, still looking for the snowman ornament.)

For those of you who like autographed books, both books are available autographed from the authors websites. 

Another gardener book, this one about how to make a healthier garden. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Every fall, I stash a book stack to read during cold, snowy winter months. You don't need a cold day to enjoy reading Mary-Kate Mackey's "The Healthy Garden: Simple Steps for a Greener World."

I also met Mary-Kate through the international gardening group and recently worked with her on a live "meet the author" forum. She lives in the Portland, Oregon area but shares an "older" garden, much like my 40-year old limestone hillside garden. If you didn't know, gardens will take a shape, and direction, all of their own. I try to embrace that energy, striving for balance as opposed to imposing perfection.

Mary-Kate Mackey's book "The Healthy Garden: Simple Steps for a Greener World" ($13.59 US) offers a number of thoughtful reasons why we should rethink our gardens and how we can all contribute to a greener world. 

Shopping on Amazon? Get all three!

(Amazon determines book pricing and regularly changes it)

A Beekeeper's Diary, Self-Guide to Keeping Bees 2nd Edition (available hardcopy and ebook)
Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden (available hard copy and ebook)
Simple Steps to a Healthy Garden (also available hard copy and ebook) 

Happy gift-giving, and don’t forget to pick a few books up for yourself!

Charlotte