Cachepot by HORM Design
Are you looking for unique or unusual presents for the holidays? This GardenLady has a few suggestions. I love the items that are not necessarily sold in the malls. And you know that TheGardenLady loves local items whenever that is possible especially because it supports the economy. So you will be able to find gifts in your location. And since it helps in these harsh economic times if the prices are reasonable, the shopping for gift suggestions are going to have modest price tags.
The first suggestion is to check out your local nurseries for presents. Many small nurseries not only have plants and flowers for the holidays, (And what could be nicer than a pretty new poinsettia for Christmas or a bouquet with blue and white flowers for Hanukah?) but also these nurseries often have surprising and unusual gifts. One of my favorites, Ambleside Nursery in NJ has the most delightful gifts. I think I can often do my entire holiday shopping at Ambleside Nursery. For example, they have the most extraordinary creche sets from around the world. And their Christmas tree ornaments have been among the most unusual ones that I have ever seen. One year I bought little mice ornaments for gifts. I eagerly look forward to seeing what surprises they have this year.
Another nursery that I recently discovered is called Polly’s Pots in Kingston, NJ. Polly has lovely potted plants and really nice items for the garden. But she also sells hand-made ceramics, many of which can be used to hold plants, as well as other flower related pieces.
A second suggestion is to look for art or craft studios or art and craft sales at venues like your local Y. There are many creative people out there who spend their free time or their lifetime creating art or crafts to sell. And December is the best time for these sales.
Ceramics are an item that can be used by most plant loving people especially if you can find pieces that are or can be used as cachepots. A cachepot is an ornamental container for a flowerpot. I don’t think one can have enough pretty cachepots if one likes flowers.
Check your newspapers for art and craft sales. For example, The Lincoln Center Y in Manhattan at 5 West 63rd St. will be having a ceramics sale by all the ceramicists who work in the Y ceramic studios. This sale will take place at the Y on December 9, 10, 11. On December 9th and 10th, it is from 10am to 9pm. And on Saturday, December 11th, it’s from 10am to 6pm.
The Clay Studio in Phila at 139 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 is having their special sale in Dec. 2 and Dec. 4th. And there are many other art galleries in this Phila. area.
The LillStreet art center in Chicago at 4401 N. Ravenswood Ave. Chicago, IL 60640 is having a special show and sales this week or you can buy at their shop or online. Arkansas is a great place for ceramics and the University of Arkansas is having an exhibition and then selling all the ceramics shown. See here.
And Little Rock Arkansas is having their Ceramics and Garden holiday sale on Dec. 3rd. See here. Artists are in every community across the country so that you have lots of places to go to for these exciting purchases. Whenever you do your shopping at these artists sales TheGardenLady feels that you will not only find a “steal” and get a gift that is one of a kind but you will be helping a starving artist. (Hint: If it is a one day sale or a sale that lasts just a few days, sometimes if you are lucky and the piece you want hasn’t sold by the end of the day or the end of the last sale day, the artist will even give you a bigger price cut so that he or she doesn’t have to carry the piece home. But of course, if someone else bought the piece of art you wanted, you can also be out of luck for having waited.)
And the third suggestion is one that I imagine many of you already do, and that is to shop at your local museums or botanical garden shop. Most have garden themed or related items that would be something that a plant lover would want. Some museums even sell local artists or crafts people’s items. A favorite spot for TheGardenLady is Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. They have two shops and the less expensive of the two gift shops is now selling local crafts people’s items. And their pricier shop, Toad Hall, has a separate room that sells only artists work who show at Grounds. TheGardenLady cannot afford these last items; but she can dream about a piece of sculpture for her garden.