Great Christmas gift idea for the gardener in your life

A Christmas gift of a gardening course with some of the world’s best gardeners is just a click away as MyGardenSchool launches a unique online gift certificate

MyGardenSchool, the world’s first online gardening school, has today launched gift certificates for each of its 23 online gardening courses, just in time for Christmas. This makes it possible for people to buy an online gardening course as a gift right up until the moment they see their loved ones on Christmas Day.

The beauty of a course from MyGardenSchool is that the world’s most acclaimed gardeners teach students how to absolutely everything in the garden, from keeping bees or hens; landscaping and design; growing vegetables, herbs and the perfect roses; building treehouses and ponds; taking beautiful photographs, and everything in between. This makes is possible to find a gift for everyone, from the most discerning gardener to the keen gardening, design or photography enthusiast to someone simply looking for a great new hobby.

Those wishing to buy a gift certificate for loved ones simply need to choose the online gardening course they would like from the MyGardenSchool website and click through to the individual course page. In addition to a course overview, details about the course tutor and a taster video, visitors will find a ‘Gift this Course’ button. The button leads buyers through the very simple ordering and payment process, and provides a printable certificate with an online code that enables recipients to book any course to begin at a time that suits them.

All MyGardenSchool courses cost £120, last four weeks and begin on the first Saturday of every month. The beauty of the course being online is that students learn at their own pace, and in the comfort of their own home. Each course includes step by step video tutorials, downloadable course notes, and the facility to chat with tutors and fellow classmates online, in a ‘virtual classroom’. The classroom may be ‘virtual’ but the camaraderie is real, and the technology is very intuitive and easy to use.

All of the MyGardenSchool tutors are outstanding in their field (and gardens), being accomplished gardeners and acclaimed gardening writers. MyGardenSchool tutors include multi-gold medal winner at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Andy McIndoe with courses in bulbs, shrubs and trees; Stephanie Donaldson, author and Gardens Editor of Country Living magazine with a course on organic gardening; leading garden designer and author, Hilary Thomas with a courses in planting design; photographer and author Sue Bishop with a course on flower photography; and John Brookes, prolific author who is often described as the world's most influential garden designer, with a course on garden and landscape design. The details of tutors, together with courses, can be found on the MyGardenSchool online gardening course pages.

FACTFILE:

MyGardenSchool Ltd is a unique global online horticultural classroom. Whether you want to grow organic veg, create enviable flower borders, nurture that perfect lawn, or simply give a good home to an egg laying chicken – MyGardenSchool offers a high quality range of gardening courses taught by some of the world’s top tutors and delivered right to your green fingertips. For more information, please go to the MyGardenSchool website

Christmas present ideas from the RHS

From beginners and experts, to people who love wildlife and people who love being pampered; the RHS has the perfect Christmas gift for gardeners of all ages and interests.

For the new gardener…

• RHS Complete Gardener’s Manual: A definitive, practical guide to gardening, containing all of the techniques, inspirational ideas and problem-solving advice you need to create and maintain your garden. £20.00 (ISBN 9781405365833)

• Gold Leaf Winter Touch Gloves: Endorsed by the RHS, these gloves are designed to keep your hands warm and dry, with a Thinsulate ¾ thermal lining and an innovative, waterproof, breathable Ski-Dri lining. £21.99

• RHS Membership: Free days out at more than 80 gardens, special access or discounted tickets to RHS flower shows, personal gardening advice from the RHS experts and a monthly magazine subscription all offer you a wealth of inspiration and expertise to get any garden blooming. RRP £49.00 (www.rhs.org.uk/gift)

For the experienced gardener…

• RHS Encyclopedia of Perennials: The definitive, practical guide to choosing, planting and combining herbaceous perennials, and an essential tool for all gardeners. £22.00 (ISBN 9781405334310)

• RHS Chelsea Flower Show: Be inspired by the world’s best garden designers, nurseries, florists and garden product companies at the catwalk of the gardening world. 22 – 26 May 2011. Tickets on sale from early October (www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows)

• RHS Mini Colour Chart: An indispensible reference for anyone wanting to identify and communicate plant colours. This chart, containing 244 colours chosen to represent the broad spectrum of colour, allows for easy planning and standardisation of plant collections and colour schemes. £26.00

For the wildlife lover…

• Wildlife Gardening for Everyone: Full of expert advice from the RHS and the Wildlife Trusts, discover the many benefits of gardening for wildlife, both for your garden and for you. £12.99 (ISBN 9781845250904)

• RHS Wild in the Garden Diary 2012: Beautifully illustrated with photographs of birds, mammals, amphibians and insects that may be found in gardens, plus tips on how to manage your garden to enhance the wildlife potential and thereby add interest and enjoyment. £12.99

• Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’: One of the RHS Perfect for Pollinators collection of plants, this shrub has sweetly scented, creamy white flowers in winter, followed by rounded, blue-black berries. £12.99 (2 litre pot).

For the kids…

• RHS Garden Bugs Ultimate Sticker Book Find all kinds of creepy-crawlies that live in your garden with this informative and fun sticker book. Choose from more than 60 reusable, easy-peel stickers to create your own busy garden bugs scene. £3.99 (ISBN 9781405314787)

• RHS Chelsea Flower Show jigsaw puzzle: 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle featuring a collage of the best and most beautiful gardens from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. £14.99

• RHS How Does My Garden Grow?: Learn to grow plants for food and be inspired by other fun-packed projects, like turning tomatoes into pizza toppings or growing your own loofah. £9.99 (ISBN 9781405362627)

For the Grow Your Own-er…

• RHS Allotment Journal: The Expert Guide to a Productive Plot: Find out how to get the most from your plot, then cook up the produce. With storage advice and timely recipes for abundance and gluts, this book will keep you on top of an active plot. £12.99 (ISBN 9781845335595

• RHS Root Vegetables Metal Wall Sign: Handmade in the UK, this enamelled metal wall sign will brighten up any wall in your house with an image taken from the RHS Lindley Library collection. Measures 40 x 30cm. £10.99

• Hampton Court Palace Flower Show: Packed with ideas for fruit and veg lovers, this show is a must for gardeners who grow their own. See spectacular plants and produce in the Growing Tastes Marquee, and a wealth of inspiration from the productive gardens on show. Tickets on sale from early October. www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows

For the glamorous gardener…

• RHS Cotton Shawl: This beautifully soft, 100% cotton shawl is printed with original forget-me-not artwork by Caroline Maria Applebee (c1800 – 1850). £21.00

• RHS Flower Show Tatton Park: As the North’s greatest garden party, this show is perfect for gardeners who want a little pampering. Flowers, floristry and tea at Fortnum & Mason make for a full day of indulgence. Tickets on sale from early October www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows

• RHS Natural Gardener's Therapy Relaxing Bath Soak: Part of the new, luxurious range of RHS Gardener’s Therapy products, this soothing fragranced bath soak is enriched with extracts of cucumber and almond protein, to help cleanse, tone and moisturise the skin. £12.99

• Hunter RHS Wellington Boot: Made with the gardener in mind, these boots were designed especially for the RHS, using original artwork from the RHS Lindley Library. The upper is of vulcanised natural rubber construction, built on an orthopaedic last for the legendary Hunter fit. £65.00

Visit www.rhs.org.uk/shopping for full details about these products and many more, and find a great gift for the gardener in your life.