Bugs Perfect Present For The Avid Gardener

Bugs aren’t everyone’s idea of a great Christmas gift. But the gardeners on your list just might find a box of bugs to be an endearing present.

These aren’t your ordinary bugs, however. Rather, they are predators that will make gardening more organic.

The Bug Store will ship a box of European chocolate ladybugs now, then in the spring a box of good bugs - lacewings, praying mantis, trichogramma and beneficial nematodes - will arrive just in time for the beginning of gardening season.

The gift packages begin at $29; for detailed information or a free catalog, contact the Bug Store at (800) 455-BUGS or on the Web at www.bugstore.com.

Stocking stuffer

The Sunflower Farm in Kentucky is offering a free packet of sunflower seeds from which you can expect sunflowers that will grow to 20 feet tall.

The seed packet contains 10 to 12 seeds; just send a SASE (with 2 stamps on it) to: Sunflower Farm, P.O. Box 629, Burgin, KY 40310. There’s a limit of one free packet per household, but additional packets are available for $1.

Just a reminder

Gardeners can go online to The Spokesman-Review’s Web site and find a wealth of information in “The Gardener’s Guide” on Virtually Northwest (www.VirtuallyNW.com). There are guides to local garden clubs, garden centers and mail-order businesses, and much more.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo