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Well top of my tree this year would be topiary! Those wonderful carved ornamental trees. Actually two please, Bays in a ball-shape would be lovely!

The Bay isn't your only option here; topiary the art of carving trees into ornamental shapes for the garden comes in olive and buxus also and is an excellent gift for people who love their gardens. There are often specialist garden centres who deal with topiary, but I've found a few companies online who provide this service:

http://www.toptopiary. co.uk/catalog/
http://www.garde ningexpress.co.uk/PlantCatalog ue.asp?GroupID=17000

For the gardeners in your life who like a challenge, there is also the possibility to buy a topiary frame and grow a plant around the frame yourself. The shapes available are animal shapes such as cats, dogs, rabbits and ducks or geometric shapes such as balls, cones, cubes, hearts and spirals depending on the experience of the person you are buying for and how much they like a challenge. You can also buy a plant too, ready to train around your shape.

If you are buying for someone who likes the unusual, you might want to consider a Grow it Carnivorous plant kit. Including a number of Venus Fly Trap seeds, Pitcher Plant seeds and the various growing pots and instructions, this will appeal to the young and the young at heart, and those who hate those pesky flies!

http://www.gettingperson al.co.uk/grow-it-gifts/grow-it -carnivorous-plants-gift-box.h tm

Lastminute.com stock a range of "Grow it" products which are useful for those people who only have a window-box, work long hours and don't get out in the garden much and those who care about how their food is sourced. Some of the more unusual ones are the Grow it Cactus kit which includes cactus seeds, organic pots to start off the growing pots, organic compost and a guide to explain how to get started.

Grow it Chilli Peppers and Grow it Herbs are not only great for those with window-boxes; they are also raw material for those who like their cooking. The chilli pepper set includes five of the hottest chilli peppers available, Tabasco chillli seeds, Tepin chilli seeds, Hungarian Hot Wax chilli seeds, jalapeno chilli seeds and Anaheim chilli seeds. The herb growing set includes Basil, Parsley, Thyme, Chive and Rosemary seeds.

Versatile, indoor, outdoor, fun and culinary there's just no end of great plant gifts to give. Go and explore!

Learn more about this author, Lesley Rigg.
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