A small present for a gardener?

My colleague is retiring next week and plans to start her golden years with plenty of gardening, which she loves but never really had time before. Instead of a card I'd love to give her something more gardeninghy, perhaps a bag of seeds?

In late July seeds aren't a big hit, do you have ideas? I've never tried biennals but perhaps this would be a good time to start them? Or would ordinary seeds be ok to give now to be sown in spring?

 

What about a rose? It will bloom at the time of her retirement and are so easy to grow. Who doesn't love a rose?

 

How about gardening vouchers - accepted at loads of garden centres.

Biennals can still be sown now, just. Might be too late by the time she gets her act together. How much money are you wanting to spend? How about a hand trowel or fork?

 

What does she intend growing, flowers or veg? or, as Sussexgardener says, why not garden vouchers.:thumb:

 

See if you can find a plant that bears her name, the old girl across the road was delighted to be given a plant with the name doris.

 

What about a bloomin card:

http://www.culpeper.co.uk/acatalog/Gardeners-Seed-Cards.html

or a gardener's notebook:

RHS Gardener's Notebook: Amazon.co.uk: Royal Horticultural Society: Books

 

If you were thinking of seeds - how about a perennial (can buy them very inexpensively at a boot fair?) and will be a constant reminder each year for her of your friendship. Maybe as the plant flourishes and grows - so too will your friendship?