” ‘Twas the night before Christmas,

And all through the house

And to all a good night.

Not a creature was stirring,

Not even a ……..”

Okay, this isn’t a mouse. It’s Cornbread, one of the little cats that likes to hang around my garden–possibly because I keep out a bowl of kitty chow for my furry neighborhood visitors.  He’s pictured here on a recent afternoon, enjoying a snooze on my porch.

Since my version of this old Christmas poem (originally written by Clement Clarke Moore) isn’t really much of a gift to you, let me try again. Today is Christmas Eve, and some of us will have to dash out, not through the snow, but through the traffic, to find a last minute gardening gift. So how about some suggestions? Consider:

a canvas garden tote, its pockets stuffed with assorted small hand tools or seed packets.

a pair of ergonomic garden gloves that fit snugly at the wrist, to keep out garden debris. Look for the washable kind.

a beautiful gardening book.

an indoor/outdoor weather station.   If that’s too pricey, a simple rain gauge and indoor/outdoor thermometer.

a bird feeder, complete with a bag of sunflower seeds, or a hummingbird feeder made of colorful glass.

tickets to the upcoming Southeastern Flower Show, which are available online now.

I can’t shimmy down your chimney tonight, but if I could, I’d also bring you the gift of time for 2009: more time to nurture your garden, to spend enjoying the beauty that’s all around us, and to be with your friends and family.

Merry Christmas, and green blessings!

Lynn