It’s hard to believe but soon that soon we’ll be on that holiday frenzy of trying to find the perfect gift for friends, relatives and even the boss, but so often they lived out of town or even out of state which can make gift giving a real hassle.

If you’re like me the catalogs have been pouring in from mail order sources. And if you’re a gardener you’ve probably gotten a lot from horticultural companies. These days they carry everything from tools and boots, the things for you’re pets and even living plants. Thanks to speedy delivery and some innovative ways of packaging, you can even send something is beautiful as this Mandevilla to someone as a surprise.

Now who wouldn’t be pleased to have such a beauty in their home during the holidays? These plants like so many other tropical who continue flowering right through the winter and I think it’s a nice alternative to the traditional poinsettia. The key to keeping blooms coming one after the other to give the plant plenty of light, you want to make it feel like it still growing in the summer or the south of the equator.

If pink or tropical isn’t your cup of tea you might try something like a topiary or an herb or combine them in an herbal topiary like this little rosemary or bulbs for indoor forcing. I kind like these little Mexican headers with their tiny lavender flowers.

All of these plants and many others can take handling, packaging, and shipping. It’s an easy way to give a gift from the garden without doing all of that foot work. You just want to make sure you get your order in early. From the garden, I’m Allen Smith.

For more on this topic and other information just check out my web site P.AllenSmith.com and make sure you watch me on the MBC today show on December 6 and 8 where I’m going to show some holiday tips.