So, I’m working on the obligatory “Holiday Gifts for the Organic Gardener” article right now for my About.com site, and I also happened to get the latest issue of Horticulture in the mail over the weekend. Some of you have probably seen it. On page 21, they have a piece titled “Dig It: Gifts to Give” that features nine gifts that one might consider for a garden-addicted friend or family member. Most of the items are, admittedly, quite pretty. Some, including a weather station and solar-heated bird bath, are very practical. Nothing amiss here.

Until one gets to the bottom row of photos. There is a very cute charm bracelet featured. The charms consist of a watering can, shovel and hoe, rose, etc. Cute. Then you read the description:

Photo courtesy magnums.net

“Gardener’s Bracelet has 14K gold charms, $995.”

Nine hundred and ninety-five dollars. Very close to a grand, and easily over a grand after you add taxes and shipping.

Wow.

First off, it makes me marvel at the budgets some people apparently are able to enjoy. A thousand dollar gift to one person? I suppose that between a husband/wife this would be possible, but it usually involves something with a diamond or other precious gem.

And then I realized the true source of my agitation: if someone ever spent a thousand dollars on this particular gift for this particular gardener, they would deserve a swift smack upside the head. Lovingly, of course.

A thousand dollars??!! Do you know how many yards of compost or mulch that would buy? How many seeds and flats? How many pairs of Felco pruners or seedling heat mats? You can buy a small, inexpensive greenhouse for less than a grand. If it were between a greenhouse for my seed-starting obsession and a pretty little thing I’d probably lose as I rushed around after kids and in the garden, I’d easily take the greenhouse. No-brainer.

Maybe I’m being too practical (I’ve been accused of that before…won’t be the last time) but I just don’t understand what kind of gardener would prefer this pretty but very useless trinket over actual garden-related stuff.

Me…I asked for heat mats and a pair of #2 Felcos for Christmas, to which the husband said “that’s so practical. Don’t you want something else?”

No way. When the practical parts of your life perfectly intersect what brings you unending joy, I’m pretty sure you’re one of the lucky ones. I know I am.

What do you think? Am I being too practical? Would this be the kind of gift that turned you on? And, if you received it, how many of you would eBay it for cash to buy garden stuff?