Think green when giving holiday presents

This time of year brings thoughts of turkeys, Christmas trees and football games to the wonders of the holiday season. It also raises the question of what gift to buy for those who have helped you throughout the year, such as the mail carrier, the bank teller or a favorite clerk at the grocery store.

How about a plant to add beauty and life to someone's home?

Chrysanthemums

This is the No. 1 plant gift for the holidays. It is an excellent potted perennial that comes in beautiful yellows, oranges and reds. The lowers are profuse and can later be planted in the garden for next year.

Many retailers have assorted annual colors, or you can make a special arrangement bowl using herbs such as oregano, basil, cilantro and parsley.

If you need time to get the plants in the ground and don't want to keep them indoors, set them out on the patio and keep them moist until you are ready to plant them. The cold, moist air will give them a better chance of survival. Just remember to put a tag in the ground so the plant's location doesn't get lost when the foliage dies off to the ground until spring.

Pointsettias

This old friend is a good standby that has stood the test of time.

If you think that poinsettias are too traditional, think again. You can now find pink, white and even yellow plants in many sizes, from a 6-inch pot up to 5-gallon containers.

Make sure you water your plants on a regular basis. Plants can dry out quickly indoors if the heater is running during the cool winter nights. After the holidays they, too, can be planted outdoors or can be transplanted into a larger clay or ceramic pot to be enjoyed long after the holiday decorations come down. Bulbs

During the holidays you can find a wide variety of forced bulbs that make great centerpieces for the dinner table.

Fall bloomers such as dahlias and gladiolas can be found in bloom in pots and forced spring flowering perennials such as tulips and daffodils bring a touch of spring to a cool winter day.

Make sure you plant the bulbs in the ground after they bloom. Many gift pots have directions on how and where to plant the bulbs after you have enjoyed the blooms. Hydrangeas

Here's another holiday classic. Monster blooms of sterile flowers in pink or white or red can dress up the corner of the room or be used on the front porch to welcome holiday guests. Have you heard of blue hydrangeas? Those are pink or red hydrangeas planted in acidic soil or fertilized with aluminum sulfate, which turns the flower blue. In any color, Frenchhybrid hydrangeas can make a big impression!

Calla lilies

Calla lilies are know for their versatility and beauty. They're typically white, but now come in beautiful hybrid shades of yellow, pink, red and purple.

Callas last a long time indoors if placed in a sunny location and watered regularly.

After the blooms are finished, you should remove them to force new growth. When the holidays are overplant them in a semi-shaded and wind-protected area for beauty all year long.

Don't forget, you can buy these and other plants already packaged for the holidays with bows and colored foil, but you can also add your own touch. •Transplant into a beautifupainted clay or ceramic pot of your choice. •Present the plant as a gifand include a small box or bag of fertilizer. The recipient will thank you.

•Add ceramic or glass figurines of a favorite animal or collectible.

This holiday, think green (or red or yellow) and give a gift of life that will keep the recipienthinking about you long after the season is over. Ron Reichl is the owner oMetro Landscape in Simi ValleyHe is a landscape contractorcertified nurseryman and a former horticulture instructor at Michigan State UniversityHe can be reached at (805) 8570616.