It is the first week of December, and we have finished eating Thanksgiving leftovers. The holiday buying frenzy has begun, although shopping looks a little different this year. I haven’t seen news reports of fistfights in big box stores over the latest kitchen gadget, and I am thankful for that. While masked shoppers are venturing out to purchase special gifts for friends and family members, many of us are shopping online, and we don’t even have to change out of our yoga pants.

Since March, when the pandemic lockdown began, gardening has grown in popularity. It appears that more Americans than ever have begun planting flowers and growing their own vegetables. Whether gardening exploded because we have had more time on our hands this year, or because of concern for food shortages in the supermarket, the fact is that more Americans are spending time outdoors in the garden, and that is a good thing.

Whether the gardener on your list is a veteran of many zucchini harvests or a novic...