Each garden season, I like to save flower, herb, and vegetable seeds from my garden. I do this for two main reasons. First, I enjoy harvesting the seeds I’ve grown. It’s so rewarding to grow your own plants from seeds and save them again for next year. Second, when you save seeds, you know what you’re going to get when you grow that plant. You know the size of the plant, the color of the flowers, and the taste of the produce.

But there is a third reason I love to save seeds. Seeds make great gifts for the holidays. Whether you’re gift-giving at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter or special days such as birthdays, garden seeds make a great gift idea.

Here are a few of the ways I’ve used seed packets in the past. You can use these ideas year-round, not just for holidays. As you prepare your gifts for this holiday season, consider these gift-giving ideas for your seeds.

5 Gift-Giving Ideas for Seeds…

#1. Use Seed Packets to Decorate Your Gifts

I always spruce up gifts with a special package tie on. This makes the gift extra special. Tailor your seed packet to the gift. For example, if you’re giving a colander with pasta, you could add a seed packet of Italian herbs such as basil or oregano. If you’re giving a lovely vase and flower supplies, then use a seed packet of zinnias or dahlias. For a wooden salad bowl set, include seeds for lettuce or radishes.

#2. Include the Seed Packet as Part of a Garden Gift

Gardeners love to get gifts they can use in their garden. So for all the gardeners you know, include seed packets as part of the garden gift. Here are a few ideas…

• Give a new flowerpot filled with garden tools, gloves and seed packets.
• Any gardener would love a new seed storage container. Include several seed packets inside the container.
• Tie seed packets to a vintage watering can.
• Giving a birdfeeder? Include a packet of sunflower seeds.
• For garden decor such as a birdbath, include flowers seeds such as alyssum or pansies to grow at the base.
• Include a variety of flower seed packets with a window box.
• When giving a garden book, include seeds to go with it. For example, if you’re giving a book about growing cut flowers, include some zinnia and cosmos seeds.

#3. Use Seed Packets to Announce an “Activity” Gift

Gifts don’t always come in a box. Giving the gift of your time to a friend or loved one is very appreciated. But how do you convey that gift? You need a way to tell the recipient about your gift. Seed packets to the rescue.

Here are some examples. If you want to help your grandmother prepare her garden beds next spring, create a gift card using the seed packet and then tell of the gift inside. All you need to do is glue the seed packet to the front of your blank card. Then inside the card, explain your gift.

Wrap a box of seed packets to give to the beginning gardener when you’re teaching them garden basics. If you what to help your parents clean up their garden shed, attach seed packets to a faux wreath that they can use to decorate the shed door.

#4. Seed Packets Make the Perfect Hostess Gift

When heading to someone’s house for a holiday get-together, it’s always nice to bring a bouquet of flowers or a bottle of wine. Instead, why not consider a gift of your lovely seed packets? You could give a bouquet of seed packets in a vase for the recipient to grow for herself. Place herb seed packets in a small teapot for those that enjoy herbal teas. Or how about kale seeds in a sprouting jar for those who want to try indoor gardening?

Consider the hobbies and preferences of your hostess and use seeds to enhance those gifts.

#5. Seeds are an Easy ‘Thank You’ Gift to Give Your Guests

When you’re the hostess, it’s always nice to give your guests a little token of your appreciation. Here are a few ways to use seed packets as your gift.

• Place the labeled seeds in a bowl for guests to choose the seeds they want.
• Hang your seed packets on a small tree and allow guests to choose the packet they like.
• Tape the seed packet to the top of a treat package such as a mini loaf of pumpkin bread.
• Use the seed packets as a name tag at your dinner table.
• Attach the seed packets to a garland that your guests can choose from.
• Tie a seed packet of sage onto a small bag containing a lemon, honey stick and a sprig of sage for Sage, Honey, and Lemon Tea.

What To Do If You Don’t Have Any Saved Seeds

If you’re growing flowers, herbs or vegetables, it’s very easy to save your own seeds. You can learn how to save seeds in this post… How to Save Flower Seeds From Your Garden. But if you didn’t save seeds this year, it’s perfectly okay to buy some seed packets. You might not find all the seed varieties you want, but you should be able to find some.

Check your local garden center or hardware store for seeds. You can also order seeds online. One of my favorite seed companies for their lovely seed packets and quality of seeds is Botanical Interests. A few other companies with attractive seed packets are Renee’s Garden Seeds, Annie’s Heirloom Seeds and Bentley Seed Company. Bentley Seed Company actually makes holiday seed packets for gift-giving.

Once you learn how to save seeds, you’ll want to share your abundance. These gift-giving ideas for seeds are just the beginning. Before you know it, you’ll come up with many ways to share these special seeds from your garden.