Seattle’s City People Mercantile for Christmas Shopping

Seattle residents are known for their fantastic gardens. With a climate that is mild and moist, plants thrive year round in the Pacific Northwest. Knowledgeable Seattleites take advantage of retailers like City People, who specialize in every element of gardening, from the plants themselves, to incredible decorative ornaments. City People provides the highest quality stock, and a friendly and helpful staff that give you great advice.

And if you think that winter is the off season, you are mistaken: Christmas is City People’s big event.

This is a great place to buy that perfect tree, or beautiful, healthy wreaths. The nursery in Sandpoint (which seems to be the least crowded of the two) is huge, but everything is pretty much cleared out for the Christmas stock. They sell beautiful poinsettias in every color that seem to have some kind of super lasting quality – I bought one there that lasted for three years. I have never had another that lasted even three months, no matter how attentive I was with it. I have heard people swear that the trees from City People last a good month longer than anywhere else, so this is a great place for people that like to get their tree in early November – or for people who can’t bring themselves to throw it out until February. Get a hot chocolate or cider from the next-door coffee place, and browse their outdoor selection. There are plenty of trees to choose from, so whether you are looking for the traditional tall and full pine, or something a with a little more personality (the “Christmas bush,” like my mother always buys,) you can probably only make one stop if you look here first. Prices on trees here are pretty much standard: depending on the size, be prepared to spend $75-$150, which seems to be the price you have to pay for a dead plant this days.

You won’t feel like a scrooge here, though- even when you do have to pay the prices. That’s because City People is a winter wonderland around Christmastime. Everything is completely festive, and while the outdoor section is your place for trees, the interior is a great place to buy decorations and gifts. It’s also place to get unique ornaments for family members (very easy gifts,) or to get some ideas about how to decorate your own home. You can also find plenty of other gifts here for the home or garden, which always go over big. Not to mention a huge selection of lights for the tree and the house. You can get that perfect serving set or centerpiece here, if you are planning on entertaining over the holiday. Most of the merchandise is really high quality and artistic looking, and you’ll have the added bonus of knowing that you are supporting an independent retailer from the local area. You can also get gift wrapping supplies, and a huge selection of cards here, City People does a great job merchandizing their store, and everything is very aesthetically pleasing. It is kind of fun just to walk around and look. Their theme trees are awesome, and fun to look at, before you go home and decorate your tree with you old ornaments from the seventies – which are still what Christmas is all about.