AVIAN TREAT This Grapevine Treat Basket from Duncraft is pretty enough to be given as a gift but was made for the birds. Included in the floral arrangement are millet and wheat sprays, fountain and canary grasses, and stalks of oats for birds to snack on. It also features down feathers, dried mosses, natural cotton fibers and strings of raffia that they can weave into their nests. Find this and other wreaths at duncraft.com.

RUBY RED A flowering potted plant such as this ‘Red Ruby’ orchid from Silver Vase Inc. makes an excellent long-lasting gift. The deep-red flower also offers an alternative to the poinsettia and is eco-conscious as well. Orchids are known to dissipate more carbon dioxide than other houseplants, which can improve the air quality in homes. Available while supplies last at Whole Foods Markets or proflowers.com.

’TIS THE SEASON    Just in time for the holidays, artist George Carruth offers his Tidings of Joy Nativity plaque for the home or garden. Made of hand-cast stone, it measures 61/2" high by 5" wide. “This piece was inspired by images of intricately carved ivory crosses from Medieval times,” says Carruth. To order, log on to carruthstudio.com.

SOME LIKE IT HOT

If you find it difficult to garden in the low desert, Cool Plants for Hot Gardens: 200 Water-Smart Choices for the Southwest (Rio Nuevo Publishers) may be for you.

Written by Tucson resident Greg Starr, a Phoenix Home & Garden Master of the Southwest, the book features 200 plants that do well in hot climates. It serves as an encyclopedia, listing each plant alphabetically by scientific name. Entries include the plant’s common name, water needs, growth rate, descriptive identifiers, precautions to follow, a color photograph and more.

Starr notes in his introduction that the guide will help people choose and maintain a garden that will thrive in the arid Southwest.
 —Laura Gold