Winter blooms, festive wares: Holiday Craft & Plant Fair offers flowers, foliage and handmade gifts

Summer may be the popular time for gardening but at the Holiday Craft and Plant Fair, hosted by the Albuquerque Garden Center, winter and its foliage are celebrated with the holidays.

Every year, the Albuquerque Garden Center hosts a holiday-themed fundraiser to support the nonprofit.

This year, 35 arts and crafts vendors will gather at the garden center on Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7, to sell their handmade items. Visitors can get the jump on holiday shopping with a selection of local products, creative arrangements for centerpieces and more.

Winter blooms, festive wares: Holiday Craft & Plant Fair offers flowers, foliage and handmade gifts

“The centerpieces are done the Tuesday before the event,” said Janet Dooley, co-chair of event. “It takes several members of different organizations coming together and volunteering to make the centerpieces, and some even bring their own greens as well.”

Along with centerpieces, the fair will feature poinsettias in a popular Christmas floral display. Members will also bring foliage, garlands and succulent bowls, including some that were homegrown by members of the center.

“People bring in their sturdy greens and doodads that they have to bring in to make it all pretty,” Dooley said.

The garden club will also feature Christmas cactus, a plant that features teardrop-shaped leaves and bright pink flowers without the thorns of its namesake.

“These can be used as houseplants too, so they’re not only good indoors and outdoors, but they look totally different than the cactus you see out in the wilderness,” Dooley said. “You’ll see them in different places but we have the homegrown variety.”

Beyond plants, local vendors will have a separate area where they will be selling handmade crafts. Guests can enjoy a selection of items from glasswork, woodwork and more. Visitors can grab a crocheted scarf or a nameplate carved from wood to gift to a loved one.

“We try to have a variety of things to sell and everyone will find something they like,” Dooley said.

After shopping and grabbing a poinsettia for the holidays, guests can take a rest in the garden club and enjoy on-the-go snacks like hot dogs and burritos.

“We’re hoping and praying that everyone comes out to enjoy the event and support the Albuquerque Garden (Center),” Dooley said.