Technically the gardeners on your Christmas list should be the easiest people to buy for. You buy them plants, bags of earth, tools, outdoor clothing and gift cards to quality garden retailers. But there's more!

Think of the gardener as the "backyard naturalist." Chances are that your gardening friends are much more than tillers of the soil. They are birders, walkers, hikers, bikers (in many cases) and appreciators of nature.

A pair of binoculars works, as does an inexpensive camera that gardeners can keep in the garage or the tool shed where it can be reached in a moment when the sun set is perfect, a bee is on a bloom or a hummingbird is buzzing in just the right spot. You get the idea.

Don't forget that gardeners love to read. After all, they get four or five months off each winter so they have time on their hands.

Books are the obvious choice for the holiday season. Look for some of the many new Canadian titles like "No Guff Vegetable Gardening" by Donna Balzer and Steven Biggs. Go to my website and click on my most recent Toronto Star article for more details.

Magazines also make winning gift picks. Canadian Gardening, Gardens West/Central/East and Garden Making are three major magazines with a purely Canadian message.

Still stumped? Indoor or seasonal flowering plants also make excellent presents for the gardeners on your gift list. A trip to the lawn and garden section in your local garden centre or hardware store will open your mind to all kinds of possibilities.

Mark