There’s a reason gift-giving is a quintessential love language. The act of picking out the perfect present, something totally singular, cool and curated specially for its recipient, can be the purest expression of gratitude. A way to say, “I see you, I love you, and I honor who you are.” Scouring the internet for potential Father’s Day gifts reveals a lot about our shared social understanding of what it means to be a dad. The items and images our culture associates with the concept of Dad Appreciation often perpetuate the same homogenous (read: boring) archetypes for who a family man is and what he should enjoy: a blur of barbecue tools, baseball caps, golf clubs and leather wallets galore. But we understand that every dad is unique, and their interests extend beyond those of a prototypical father figure. Just like there are all kinds of people that step up and fulfill the Father role, and broaden and diversify its meaning, (stepdads, relatives, mentors, even single moms), there are all kinds of gifts to celebrate your loved one’s individuality. This year skip the “World’s Best Dad Mugs” (even if he is), and search for something a little more personal. Here, recommendations for some of our favorite kinds of dads...

Power to the plant papas. If he’s famous for his green thumb and prefers the open air of the garden to the seclusion of a man-cave, these offerings will allow him to connect with Mother Earth and engage with nature to his heart’s content.