By Tamara Galbraith

Not long after moving into our current house in the fall of 2004, I was presented with a large potted plant by the wonderful woman who lives behind us. "I just divided mine," she explained, "and I don't have any room for this one. I'm not really sure what it is, but when it blooms, it's beautiful!"

I too was clueless about the plant's origins. But within a few weeks, a flower stalk emerged among the big strap-like leaves, and a spray of gorgeous, trumpet-shaped orange flowers burst forth...in the middle of winter, no less.

After some research, I finally identified the plant. Eureka! Or...make that: Clivia!

Clivia belongs to the same family as amaryllis, with some variations in height within the species. The primary flower color is orange, but there is also a yellow-flowered cultivar that is somewhat hard to find. Also on the rare and expensive side, there is a new breed of clivia on the market with variegated, striped foliage, which comes in both yellow- and orange-flowering forms. Good luck finding those.

Clivias are large, heavy plants and like to remain in the same pot for a long time. A mature plant can get 2-3 feet tall and almost as wide. Like many winter-flowering plants, clivia should be given a month of cool night temperatures in autumn, followed by a six-to-eight-week rest period with very little water. Even when not in bloom, the big sword-shaped leaves make for an attractive foliage plant, though.

Be patient with a young clivia, as it apparently takes a few years for them to bloom...making me especially grateful to my neighbor friend for doing the hard part for me! They are a fabulous alternative to the usual live plants available for gift-giving this time of year.

Nurseries are great places to do Christmas shopping. Lines are usually short, parking is easy, stocking stuffers abound, and children can find inexpensive gifts such as a rain gauge or a hummingbird feeder.

White Forest Nursery has tools of all kinds, gadgets such as thermometers that record high and low temperatures (good even for non-gardeners), soil augers, ornamental objects (such as chimes, bird baths, and garden sculpture), houseplants, bare-root roses, fruit trees, kneeling pads, soil-test kits, and miniature greenhouses.

For a personal gift that doesn't need wrapping, choose a sturdy basket for bringing in vegetables or flowers. Stuff it with a colorful apron, a pair of gloves, a trowel, a book or two, a few packs of seed, and a potted plant. You can even have the staff at White Forest suggest that perfect gift for those difficult ones. You can rest assured, you will have a unique gift that will be valued by that special person for years to come.

By Tamara Galbraith

Fresh or dried, herbs can make wonderful gifts for both the craft-lovers and cooks on your holiday list.

Rosemary is especially popular at this time of year, as many nurseries carry plants which have been clipped, topiary-style, into a Christmas tree shape. If you give this marvelous-smelling herb as a present, encourage the recipient to not only plant it in the ground, but to frequently take cuttings to cook with. After all, nothing wakes up a holiday chicken or turkey better than a nice rub of chopped fresh rosemary.

Lavender makes a fabulous gift as just a bunch of cut flower stems tied together with a pretty bow or sewn into a sachet. The lavender will eventually dry, but maintains its wonderful fragrance for a very long time.

A few culinary herbs that stay relatively small, like sage, fennel and cilantro, placed together in a decorative planter can make a great present for anybody who enjoys cooking.

Dried herb mixes in jars and wrapped with a nice ribbon are fantastic gifts too. Share your personalized BBQ rub, creole soup spice or poultry seasoning, with instructions and recipes printed on an accompanying card.

As for presentation, there are loads of great spice containers in all shapes and sizes to pick from. Glass jars with a sealed screw top and a removable plastic sifter are best. "Flapper" tops -- those with a sifter on one side and an open hole for pouring -- are good too.

Use your imagination with herbs, and remember...Emeril's got nothin' on you!