Gifts galore at Healesville’s Black Spur Nursery.
By Kath Gannaway
THE Black Spur Nursery in Healesville makes no claims about being a “one stop shop for Christmas shopping”.
But it is a great place to start – and you’ll be surprised at what you can find there for friends and family.
For instance – what do you give the gourmet in your family who has everything?
No question – his or her very own French truffle tree!
It’s a bit out there … but imagine the surprise!
The soil of the oak tree is impregnated with the precious truffle spore and “voila”, in two or three years, you have another ready-made gift idea – a truffle pig!
Another great surprise.
As owners John and Annette Stanhope observed – if you only have one tree, you pretty much know where to look. “And anyway …,” John said. “If the pig doesn’t find any truffles, you can roast it!”
An espaliered lemon tree is another great idea. With the move to unit living for many younger as well as older people, it’s a great way to have the traditional lemon tree without sacrificing precious garden space.
The gift shop has an amazing range of home-oriented giftware, as well as gifts for the keen gardener at prices to suit littlies wanting to pick up a present for mum or dad, to those with some serious gift-giving to do.
Flowers and hampers are always popular as a gift idea and florists Cathie Madigan and Julie Gilder can create floral arrangements and hampers to suit most budgets. For anyone wanting to send flowers interstate or overseas for Christmas, be sure to get in touch soon to place an order in plenty of time for delivery.
In the garden Black Spur has an excellent range of plants from seedlings and colour pots to herbs, native and exotics, grasses, plants for hot spots, plants for cool spots, sculpture plants, hanging baskets, fruit trees, succulents, and a huge range of pots.
It’s true, you won’t find the latest Wii games, mobile phones or hug-me-baby dolls at Black Spur Nursery, but take a gift list and you’ll be surprised at just how much you have crossed off at the end of a pleasant hour’s local shopping.
