Perfect Gifts For Tree Huggers

By Patty Goff


'Tree-huggers' are proud of this label. They promote the natural balance of the planet, and nothing is more important to this goal than trees. Gifts for tree huggers can therefore be anything that celebrates the planet, nature, and any one of more than 10,000 species of tree. There are also specialized items with the Hugger theme.

Trees benefit the planet. They produce oxygen for people and animals to breathe. In the process, they also clean the air of man-made or natural pollutants, like smog, smoke, dust, and volcanic ash. Their photosynthesis cycle, which uses water and sunlight, absorbs carbon dioxide and puts moisture into the air. Scientists report that life on earth is dependent on this process of all green plants.

Trees clean the soil by removing toxins and trapping them in their wood. They build soil as they drop their leaves or needles and bring important minerals up from the sub-soil. They stabilize the soil with their roots and prevent erosion from carrying away precious topsoil. In doing so, they keep our lakes, streams, and rivers free of silt.

Trees are very beneficial in saving energy. A windbreak planted behind houses or along fence lines can keep soil from drying out and blowing away, keep snow from drifting to block roads or other access, and keep winter winds from making it harder to heat a home. A large canopy, like a maple or oak, will cast shade which can cut air conditioning cost by as much as 30 percent. Trees add value to property for these reasons and because they are a beautiful part of the landscape.

A single large maple or oak traps hundreds of gallons of rainwater and cause it to be released slowly into the ground. This means that the water has a chance to soak into the aquifers that feed our wells, as well as feeding slowly into natural waterways. In contrast, bare ground or paved surfaces send the water away directly into streams and rivers or into storm drains that empty into them.

Woodlands, and even suburban landscaping, is home to wildlife like birds, insects, mammals, and reptiles. This means that anything that celebrates this natural diversity will make a great gift for one who loves the natural world. There is no lack of inspiration.

T-shirts, hats, windbreakers, sweatshirts, and garden aprons are decorated with trees or their many associates. Garden sculptures, like the Green Man, depict woodland sprites and spirits that man has always imagined inhabiting woodlands. Designs range from a stylized Tree of Life to scenes of forested lakeshore or mountainside. Brilliant fall leaves, even more colorful butterflies, tree-frogs, and delicate spiderwebs decorate coffee mugs, mouse pads, screen savers, yard flags, and calendars. Paintings and photographs of natural scenes make thoughtful and appreciated gifts.

There are also live trees to plant for friends or relatives, or donations to organizations like Save the Rainforest or Arbor Day. Ornaments for home or Christmas trees are other ways to acknowledge the passion someone has for the gentle giants of the plant kingdom. Go online to find the perfect item.




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