It’s that time of year again when you’re looking for holiday gifts for your friends, family, and people at work. If you want gift ideas for nature lovers or people who love fall color and Nevada, we’ve got you covered. Here are five choices for the perfect gift:
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Wild Edible Plants of Nevada
Do you know someone who thinks it would be cool to live in the wilderness and forage plants to survive? Then they’ll love the book Wild Edible Plants of Nevada by Charles W. Kane. It’s also a great choice for people living in Nevada who want to know which weeds growing in their yard could help them survive in case of an emergency.
I own his Nevada book and have really enjoyed using it. I’ve harvested the leaves of the salsify growing in our yard, and they tasted great sautéed in butter. Before buying this book I had no you could eat salsify. It grows all over our front yard. You’ll recognize it for its giant puffy seed balls, but it does taste better if you harvest it before it goes to seed.
I wished I would have had this book with me on a camping trip to Great Basin Natural Park. If I’d remembered to bring it, I would have known that the plant that surrounded our campsite was creeping holly grape and that its blue-colored berries are edible. They would have made a nice dessert or snack.
The color photos in the book (over 160 of them) are large enough to help identify the plants. There are also pictures of poisonous plants that you want to avoid. In addition, the author includes cautions about each plant mentioned. For example, when you might want to boil the plant before eating it or when it’s best to eat a particular plant in small amounts.
I also liked the sketch of the state that shows in which counties each plant is found.
If you have friends or family in other states, they might enjoy similar books the author has written. He’s published books about Wild Edible Plants of Idaho, Arizona, Utah, Arkansas, California, Texas, and Oklahoma.
Garmin inReach Mini 2 or 3
Giving someone a Garmin inReach Mini is really giving them peace of mind. It’s a satellite device that allows you to communicate with loved ones even when there’s no cell phone reception. Let’s face it. Nevada and California have a lot of desolate roads and hiking trails, and if you have a medical emergency or your car breaks down you need a way to reach out to paramedics or a tow truck.
We have a Garmin inReach® Mini 2. I use it to send a text message to my husband when I’m hiking in places without cell coverage so he knows I’m okay. The device also has an SOS button you can press to contact Garmin’s 24-hour emergency response, who will send Search and Rescue to your location in an emergency. In addition, you can share your location with loved ones back home. You’ll need an active subscription to do all this, but their subscriptions are affordable. I find the device intuitive and easy to use.
The Garmin inReach® Mini 3 Plus is different from the inReach Mini 2 because it not only has text messaging, but also the ability to talk to your loved ones and send photos, as long as you have a subscription. And it has a color screen and a longer battery life.
These satellite communicators could be a lifesaver if you injure yourself on an isolated trail or a dirt road or if you have a medical problem out in the middle of nowhere. It will help you rest easy when you’re traveling in an isolated area.
Fall Leaf and Nature Scenes Coffee Mugs by Mara
Many years ago, my brother gave me a hummingbird mug created by Mara. It was my favorite mug. It was high quality and I loved the design. Then, one day I set it down on my desk. Actually, I missed the desk and it fell into empty space and broke on the tile floor. I was so heartbroken I cried. Luckily, I was able to find another Mara hummingbird mug on Amazon. Mara sells many different designs. She also has a set of two autumn leaves mugs perfect for anyone who loves fall color.
Fall Leaf Ornaments
We have an aspen leaf ornament that brings back pleasant memories of wandering around the aspen trees as they change color in the fall. I always thought it would be fun to decorate an entire Christmas tree with these ornaments. That way it will feel like you’re in the woods where the aspen leaves have fluttered down onto a fir or pine tree. This aspen leaf ornament on Amazon is a real aspen leaf dipped in 24-karat gold. There’s also a copper-dipped maple leaf ornament for people who appreciate the red tones of fall.
Mt. Charleston Apparel and Nature Coffee Mugs
Photographer Cindy van der Velde, who contributes a lot of photos to Nevada Fall Color, has an Etsy store with stylish Mount Charleston T-shirts. She also sells some really cute enamel coffee mugs including this mug with an adorable chipmunk and another mug with wild burros. The blue jay enamel mug is a great choice for the birder on your gift list. Â
