STUMPED FOR CHRISTMAS? PLANTS, FLOWERS TOP LISTS

Is your Christmas gift list extensive? Puzzled what to do about the friend who has everything? The shut-in or someone who lives in a small apartment? The child of whom you are fond who gets too many toys? For all of these there is the suggestion of a gift that grows.

If you want to go all out - there is a collection of three orchids - the Cattleya, the showiest of all orchid flowers and often used in corsages, the Phalaenopsis, which has spectacular flowers and blooming in sequence on an arching stem, and Dendrobium, prized for its long sprays with up to 15 flowers each. This exotic collection of orchids bears a price of around $40.

Have you seen the little miniature plants less than six inches tall? There are seasonal Christmas cacti, poinsettia and evergreens, also chrysanthemums, roses, kalanchoe, daisies, variegated and plain ivy, grape ivy and even dill. These will be ideal for the sick room, for children or for apartment dwellers as they take up such a little bit of space.

If you are looking for "tummy stuffers" there are garlic and herb braids that are a practical potpourri, which are delicious and decorative and make a terrific addition to any kitchen.

There is an herbal swag that has ample fragrance herbs which can be hung in the kitchen for seasoning.

All sorts of tempting goodies are available this year, including a new Vermont sampler basket, delicious foods of crackers, cheeses, mustards and even apple chips. There are fruit baskets, sweets of exotic candies, rice packages and packages of unusual breakfast cereals.

One catalog features farm-fresh (organically grown) vegetables from California so that one might have nine pounds of tasty summer vegetables flown from California, arriving two days after harvest.

What about a fireplace starter gift basket? It will be overflowing with fire starting accessories, to keep the holidays warm and cozy. One will include color sticks, fatwood sticks, aromatic New Mexico pi~~non wood, wax-dripped scented pine cones and extra long fireplace matches.

Fruit and vegetable juicers are the very thing for the health minded individuals. Why not make your own fruit and vegetable juices, and eliminate the sugar, salt and other additives found in commercial brands? Carrot, celery, tomato, watermelon, berry, and apple juice is ready in seconds with the new high speed mixers. The stainless steel blades send juice out the spout while skin, seeds and pulp are fed right into the side container -- ready to go on the compost pile.

Do not forget the gifts that grow. There are many exceedingly nice potted plants available. Kalancho come in bright orange, yellow and red and are known for their constant blooms. The favorite Mission Bells azalea has bright magenta flowers offset by dark green foliage. When the long-lasting flowers have concluded their show, it can be transplanted outdoors when the spring weather permits.

Real tools for children make gardening more fun. Why not get them regular work gloves in small sizes, a shovel, rake, hoe or cultivator with 28-inch handles will make them truly anxious for spring to come to put them to use.

A new item this year is a huggable earth play ball where they can learn about the geography of our planet. It highlights countries, oceans, continents and islands in brightly colored poly-cotton in bright colors and clearly labeled. It is known as "Hug a Planet."

There are always subscriptions to magazines, including Flower and Garden, Horticulture, Harrowsmith, and Organic Gardening.

In the new magazines, have you noticed the American Pie "Belly Bubble" bird Feeders? The beautifully designed bird silhouettes, handcrafted in full authentic make plumage are amazingly realistic. They come in cardinal, bluejay, goldfinch and chickadee designs. Have you seen the wooden carved cardinals that hold a whole apple? Someone is getting in an "apple" bag this year.

Do not forget the blooming bulbs that will have time now to burst into bloom in time for Santa's journey down the chimney. Paperwhite narcissus are in yellow as well as whites. Amaryllis have many choices.

There is a wealth of new gardening books. Shade Gardening, Cactus and Succulants, Shrubs and Hedges, Color with Annuals, Easy Maintenance Gardening, are just a few published by Ortho. The Ortho Book of Gardening basics is a comprehensive 504 page easy-to-understand guide to the preparation of home landscapes, flower and vegetable gardens.

Shopping for gardening should be easy and fun this year.

Two Cape Girardeau gardeners have been recognized for their horticultural achievements by the Ozark Region of the Men's Garden Clubs of America.

O.D. Niswonger received recognition for outstanding achievement in the genetic development of iris, hemerocallis and related flowers. Mr. Niswonger is internationally known for his hybridation of these plants.

Mrs. Mary Blue, who has written the "Ladybug Says..." column for the Southeast Missourian for more than 30 years, received a Certificate of Excellence for her column as "An example of journalism furthering the fields of Gardening and Horticulture."

The awards were made last week by Don Culbertson, third vice president of the national organization, at the annual ladies night dinner of the Jackson Men's Garden Club.

Officers for the forthcoming year were elected. They are: President, James R. McHaney; vice president, Vernon Meyr; Secretary, John L. Blue; treasurer, Eldred Hargens.

The program was presented by Mr. and Mrs. Blue, who showed slides of 1992 plant introductions and of garden scenes in England.