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Daily WellnessDec 9, 2022
Nature-Inspired Holiday Gift Ideas
Winter may call for more time indoors, but if you’re anything like us, the holidays still provide plenty of opportunities to get closer to the Earth. Whether you’re bringing in greenery from outside or drying oranges for a festive garland, nature’s gifts are aplenty this time of year. This holiday season, treat friends and family to gifts that will help them get more in touch with nature, too.
Here are nature-inspired ideas to get your gift list started.
Outdoor Adventure Passes
One of the best gifts you can give to someone who loves the outdoors is a national park annual pass. These passes cover day-use fees and can be used at thousands of beautiful national parks and federal recreational lands. Just imagine all of the amazing adventures it could inspire! For those that prefer to explore closer to home, you can purchase a similar pass for your local state parks or county parks.
Indoor Houseplants
Once the holidays are over, winter can start feeling a little bleak. Give friends and family a touch of nature that’s easy to care for and will stick around long after the holiday tree is taken down. Some easy-to-care-for yet beautiful plants include Cyclamen, Kalanchoe, Bromeliads and Christmas Cactus. Pair the plant with a lovely pot and some handwritten care instructions to complete the gift.
Be sure to note whether or not the plant is toxic to pets!
A Bee Hotel
Oh, pollinators—how we love them so. Caring for and observing insects is a great way to get in touch with nature (at any age!). Bee hotels are a unique gift you can purchase or build yourself with recycled materials and a little elbow grease. These cozy insect houses can be placed in a secure spot in the garden (make sure it gets direct morning light!) and provide a refuge for solitary bees. It gives them a place to rest, hibernate or nest. In late summer and fall, bees will also lay eggs there so they can safely hatch in spring.
Field Guides
Help friends and family get to know the plants and animals in their area. Illustrated field guides are often beautifully made and make wonderful coffee table books. They’re practical, too! It’s so fun reading through them and then heading out to local trails and parks to see what plants, birds, mushrooms or even animal tracks you can correctly identify.
Friendly reminder: be sure to positively identify anything you might be harvesting and follow the rules of the place you’re visiting.