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Cool plants are coveted, though hard-to-wrap, gifts. Gardeners and nature-lovers are grateful for anything that draws them to the great outdoors. Even the most practical hand trowel or rain gauge can elicit a gasp of delight when it shows up under the tree. (I recall the year my long-suffering husband shelled out $85 for lime-green waterproof gardening overalls, the must-have accessory on my wish list. Sexy? No. Useful and cute? Yes.)

Even if I’m giving a more traditional gift such as a sweater or slippers, I tie a botanical- or horticultural-inspired ornament on top of the wrapped package. Smaller items such as copper plant tags or a few packets of seeds are perfect for tucking inside a stocking. In the middle of December, it’s nice to remind folks that planting season will soon begin.

Here’s a bounty of great gift ideas for the gardener on your list:

Spring is traditionally the time when new gardening titles are released, so when an exciting book, such as Ken Druse’s Planthropology, shows up in time for holiday gift-giving, I get excited. A multitalented writer, photographer and speaker, Druse has more than 10 books to his credit, including The Natural Garden and my favorite, Making More Plants. In Planthropology: The Myths, Mysteries and Miracles of My Garden Favorites (Clarkson Potter, $50), Druse explores the world of plants with anecdotes, histories and unusual scientific facts, illustrated with more than 400 of his luscious photographs showing detailed filaments, fronds and fruits. Planthropology, a term Druse coined to describe the “anthropology of plants,” traces the natural and cultural history of everyday plants—and their role in human civilization. “I want to show people that plants are individuals and not just one big green swath,” Druse says.

Every office, mudroom or potting shed needs a nice, big calendar on its wall. I appreciate calendars that not only help me organize month by month but also present gardening tips and information. The Herbal Calendar, by herb expert Theresa Loe, features notes on gardening, crafting, floral arranging and cooking with herbs (Peggy Turchette’s charming botanical illustrations accompany recipes and projects). Seed Savers, From the Preservation Garden, features text by Diane Ott Whealy, co-founder of Seed Savers Exchange, and photographs by edible-gardening expert Rosalind Creasy. Each month celebrates an heirloom fruit or vegetable variety, grown from seed that has been passed along by generations of gardeners. Recipes accompany each month, inspiring you to grow—and cook with—heritage crops. Both calendars ($13.95 each) are published by Tide-mark Press.

Essential gardening accessories needn’t look drab. There’s something refreshing about donning bright and bold gear. I own a lot of baseball-style caps and visors with brims, not to mention a few charming straw hats, which seem better suited for garden touring than toiling. Recently I found the perfect outdoor hat, which fits comfortably, has a soft brim and is attractive to wear. Designed by Seattle-based ExOfficio for its “Insect Shield” line, the Sun Bucket Hat ($32) features an odorless bug-proof finish that lasts 70 washings and is made of a fabric that has 30-plus SPF for sun protection. It comes in unisex sizes S–XL and is available in bone, white and dark marine. If you want a wider brim, ExOfficio also sells a canvas sun hat ($30) and an adventure hat ($38), also made with Insect Shield fabric.

Stylish but durable garden gloves are a top gift for gardeners, who consider hands the hardest-working tools they own. West County Gloves combines technology, comfort and fashion to create high-performance work and garden accessories. The new “classic” glove ($25) comes in delicious modern colors—apricot, berry, lime and slate—and breathable, flexible fabrics—lightweight, open-mesh nylon backs and padded synthetic suede palms. The tall cuff fits higher on the wrist for extra forearm protection, and an adjustable tab keeps out dirt and adds support. These smart-fit features are often hard to come by in youth gloves, but West County’s new child’s glove ($20) employs the same materials and construction, scaled to fit smaller hands, in berry and lime.

Digging and weeding seem less like work and more like an art form if the tools are adorned with “Daisy,” “Cray” and “Anemone,” three classic William Morris prints from Britain’s arts and crafts movement. The floral patterns were selected from a volume of William Morris wallpapers at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Flower prints embellish a variety of lightweight aluminum hand tools for the home and garden, including a trowel and cultivator set ($32), bypass pruners ($26), tool kit of screwdriver, hammer and pliers ($32), home kit of scissors, utility knife and tape measure ($26) and scissors ($7.75).

Give the gift of the outdoors with a motion-activated digital wildlife camera called the Wingscapes BirdCam ($249). It allows birders and nature-lovers to document songbirds, hummingbirds and other winged creatures in their own backyard. The nifty camera can be mounted to a tree, post or camera tripod. When it detects the motion of a bird at a feeder, bath or nest, it takes digital photographs and 10-second video clips that can be viewed on a TV or computer. The BirdCam also works in time-lapse and manual modes and has a remote control that can be used to trigger a shot from 30 feet away. It has 32MB internal memory (and can accommodate an optional memory card), a durable, weatherproof case and a photo-cell that saves battery power.

For the gardener with too many gadgets, tools and supplies, the ultimate treat is to experience more plants and great gardens. Advance tickets to the 2009 Northwest Flower & Garden Show make a perfect gift. The third-largest garden show in North America, next year’s botanical extravaganza is titled “Sustainable Spaces, Beautiful Places” and takes place February 18–22, 2009, at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center.

Happy holidays—I’ll see you there!

Longtime Seattle Homes & Lifestyles contributing editor Debra Prinzing wants a new pair of garden gloves this year.