Gardening gift ideas for Father’s Day

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Father’s Day is just a week away and as usual we try to think about appropriate, meaningful gifts. You might be surprised at just how engaged a lot of dads have become in the world of nature and gardening.

Having worked in the gardening industry for quite some time, I have seen a significant shift in the level of gardening participation, especially in younger men.

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Of course, men have always had a horticultural connection, but it’s been primarily in lawn and garden maintenance as well as an inherent pride in vegetable and fruit-tree growing, but today I feel there is a much broader scope of interest.

The COVID-19 pandemic no doubt helped further this stronger connection, as we were all more confined to our homes. We became far more concerned about inspiring our surroundings and securing a food supply, and also about our shrinking wildlife habitats and the pollinator crisis. Global warming now demands greater awareness of the need to be more environmentally conscious and to work on lowering our individual carbon footprints.

As you think more about the most relevant and rewarding gift for the people you want to salute on Father’s Day, you might want to consider the garden.

Anything food-oriented is always a great gift, but there are a few items that are quite unique.

If there’s a sunny spot in the garden, either a combination fruit tree, or my personal favourite, a multi-grafted espalier fruiting tree is a winner. You only need one tree to enjoy apples, pears, plums, Oriental pears or cherries. There is a bit of an art to growing them successfully, but they can be one of the most food productive plants in the garden.

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If your dad takes pride in the vegetable garden, then something that would make this more efficient and beautiful would be welcomed. Tall eight-to-20-foot black metal pergolas or obelisks add an amazing new look. They add an attractive vertical element and a wonderful opportunity to not only show off all the vining plants, from tomatoes, cucumbers, berries, peas, beans, and even novelties like cucamelons, but also to capitalize on garden space.

Many dads take a great deal of pride in growing rare and unique fruits; they’re a delicious addition to our menus, and a great source of bragging rights too. There’s a big thing with figs right now, and since so many were lost in our cold winter, they might be quite appropriate.

Exotic fruits, like pawpaws, hardy passion fruit vines, kiwis, seaberries, mulberries, medlars and goji berries can all be exciting additions to their gardens.

Although a little hard to find, there is a huge demand for Asian persimmons. I’m surprised at how popular haskaps or Honeyberries, have become too. They’re some of the first fruits to ripen in our garden, and the new Yezberry series from Proven Winners are some of the best and biggest varieties.

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June is the best perennial month, and when so many are in bloom, it’s a great time to go out and discover the many new introductions and unusual perennials, which are also a much-treasured garden gift for dads who love to create beautiful, long blooming beds and borders. Some of the most notable this year are the coral red delphiniums, Red Lark and the shade loving polemonium Golden Feathers. Both will make a significant contribution to any perennial planting.

If he’s into helping pollinators, this is the best year ever for the introduction of the many new, long-flowering alliums. From the award-winning a. Millenium to a. Serendipity, a. Medusa and a. Lavender Bubbles, they all have a long bloom period and are pollinator magnets. Just for fun, the unique armeria, Dreameria, has big, round flowers the size of golf balls, and it blooms continuously all summer.

Planting a tree for shade, privacy, beauty or simply to help our environment is a significant thing to do for Father’s Day and there are many good choices. Beautiful kousa dogwoods are now in bloom, with Japanese snowbells (styrax japonica) coming up just behind them. The stunning, multicolored foliage of the Japanese willow (salix Hakuro Nishiki) is always a hit. Japanese maples are all now in full spring colour, and they too are great multi-purpose trees, especially appreciated as a haven by birds. Even as a patio or deck tree, Japanese maples have a diversity in size, colour and foliage that few other plants can match.

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Many fathers are great rosarians or perhaps they simply enjoy the continuous colour and fragrance of roses. For pure perfume, the David Austin English roses are some of the most highly scented and they make a wonderful addition to the garden. June is also the best month to see roses in bloom so you can check out their form and fragrance. There is a good selection of many other roses, as well as tree forms, available now.

A small, but high-quality greenhouse will provide a longer season of enjoyment for dads in the garden. The chance to start seeds and cuttings early, as well as to successfully grow plants like hot peppers and melons that need a longer season, will be a source of both food and fun for him.

If dad is pretty handy around the barbecue, giving him a collection of herbs will add some great flavour to all his culinary creations. June is ‘basil time’ and there are many wonderful new varieties that can be added to dishes to raise the bar for any backyard chef. This is also the time to pick up some of the popular lemon grass as well as lemon verbena and maybe even a citrosa (geranium) plant, which some say can double as a mosquito deterrent.

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There are still a few self-guided garden tours yet to happen that dad might really enjoy. The East Vancouver Garden tour is taking place on June 18. This is a fundraiser for the Napier Square Greenway and it’s a walkabout tour that is always a delight. For further information go to: [email protected] or drop by Figaro’s Garden to purchase tickets.

The Rotary Club of Chilliwack is holding their annual self-guided garden tour on June 24. This takes place throughout the Chilliwack area and maps are available so you can plan your driving route. More information at: chilliwackrotary.com/garden.

Either, or both, garden tours would be a great outing to do with dad.

If the dad, or dads, in your circle of family and friends have a love of plants, gardening, nature and wildlife, I hope these few suggestions help you choose the perfect gift this Father’s Day.

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