A peek at Christmas wishes: Local gardeners discuss their ‘ultimate gift’ ideas

MOSES LAKE — Holly Trinnamen, a Moses Lake gardener, said she knew exactly what her ultimate garden gift would be.

“The first thing that comes to mind is a gardener to work for me. A whole crew,” Trinnaman said. “And of course, I would love to hire an amazing landscape designer.”

If money was not a concern, Trinnaman also said she would have more land for a bigger garden. Most people only have a postage stamp-sized lot, she said, and many of the world’s great gardens are large in scale.

But Trinnaman said other gardeners would answer that question differently, and she was right. The gardeners who were interviewed in early December about their ultimate gift list had answers that ranged from tools to specific plants.

Melody Townsend, of Moses Lake, said she would replace a much-loved resident of her garden from a previous house.

“I would love to have a Japanese cherry tree. I don’t have one any more,” she said. “They’re so beautiful in the spring.”

Townsend said she would just fill her garden with as many flowers as she could fit in the space.

“I love all flowers,” she said.

But Townsend said she would settle for finding gardenias in colors other than red. Every spring they’re gone by the time she gets to the nursery.

“I have to go to the dollar store to get them,” she said. “Somehow I miss out everywhere.”

Hydrangeas -- but not just any hydrangea -- were the first choice for Robin Prchal, of Quincy.

“Specifically an oak leaf hydrangea,” she said.

The plant has uniquely-shaped leaves, beautiful flowers, colorful fall foliage and is suited to the eastern Washington climate.

“That would be a top choice for me,” she said.

Heather Gessele, of Moses Lake, said she would just ask for tools, hand tools specifically, if people really wanted to give her a garden-related gift, and left it at that.

“I’m too picky for what kind of plants I want,” she said.

Tony Kern, of Moses Lake, had two lists: one for his own garden, and one for the greenhouses he oversees at Moses Lake High School.

His home garden is broken up into beds, and a regular tiller is too big. So Kern said he really wants a smaller size tiller with a rotating head.

“It’s like a really small rototiller,” he said. “It’s more nimble.”

As for the MLHS greenhouses, the newer, smaller building could use some new tables. The current ones were built from old pallets and are showing their age.

“I need new tables out there,” he said.

A garden is more than a space for plants.

“They have so much of that artistic garden stuff that’s really fun,” said Carol Seal, of Moses Lake. “Flags are fun. Maybe some stepping stones. A lot of things, really.”

A garden could always use a bench, or some wind chimes, she added.

Korbi Ashton’s family is building a new house in Moses Lake, and she’s got something already picked out for her garden.

“An arbor,” she said. “That will be one of the first things I get.”

She’s thinking of planting a climbing tea rose to fill it, she said, and people would just have to be careful of the thorns.

Lisa Villegas, of Royal City, knew exactly what she wanted.

“A greenhouse,” she said. “A really pretty one.”

Of course she already has a greenhouse.

“But you can never have enough,” she said.