With Christmas just weeks away, checking the last few items off the shopping list is becoming a priority. Fortunately, our store is a great place to find that special gift for anyone on your list. Our team knows our collection better than anyone, so we asked them – what would you be thrilled to find under the tree this Christmas? Answers came from across the store – maybe you’ll find a perfect gift for someone you know from among these suggestions.
As you may suspect, plants are popular choices around here. Our annual buyer Barb Marsh would love a tropical bird of paradise plant. The upright structure and wide green leaves remind her of escaping to somewhere warm in the cold winter. Ethan Damman from our distribution team would like a fiddle leaf fig. Depending on its height, a fiddle leaf might not fit under the tree, but it could be the tree instead. Creative coordinator Dana Howerter wants a new tropical plant too, but she’d like a full and leafy Philodendron ‘Burle Marx.’ Outdoor landscape plants are coveted by some members of our team too. Hardy Plants team member Karen Martin wants a new tree for her yard, and Erica Tirendi from the greenhouse would love a hydrangea – especially one of those trained to look like a tree on a single tall stem. Of course, it’s not the best time to shop for hydrangeas, but a Mulhall’s gift card would let someone pick their favorite landscape plant when the weather warms up in the spring.
With plant ownership comes the need for the tools and supplies to better take care of them, and some of these items showed up on our team’s wish lists too. Tom Anderson from Hardy Plants has a wealth of well-used garden tools, and he would like new pruners, loppers, trimmers, and shovels to update his collection. His Hardy Plants teammate Kristin Tweedly has her eye on a new pair of high-quality bypass pruners. Patty Dailey from the greenhouse uses SuperThrive for her indoor and outdoor plants, and she’d appreciate a year’s supply to help keep them all happy and healthy. In Décor, Megan Troia wants a work apron from Artifact Bags. Gardeners, woodworkers, mechanics, and painters like Megan love these sturdy and stylish aprons. They’re handmade right here in Omaha and carry a lifetime guarantee. Artifact also has a collection of beautiful canvas totes for garden tools and other supplies, which Plant Care’s Terri Loewens is interested in too. And if your gift recipient gets thirsty after a day in the garden or workshop, Lauren Herrod on our distribution team suggests a S’well water bottle. They’re stainless steel, very attractive, and keep cold drinks cold for twenty-four hours and hot drinks hot for twelve. She loves the one she has already and said she’d enjoy having another one too.
Of course, we’re not only about plants around here – our store is filled with items to make our homes beautiful and comfortable for guests and ourselves too. Greenhouse team members Sherry Quinn and Kaitlyn Barth both looked to the Floral department for a present they’d like. Sherry wants a lifelike floral arrangement for her table and Kaitlyn would love a bouquet of fresh cut flowers. Plant Care’s Woody Wood and greenhouse team member Barbara Fendrick pointed to our line of stylish indoor furniture as potential gifts. With snuggling and reading in mind, Elizabeth Parker on our Distribution team wants a colorful kantha throw and pillow. They’re hand-stitched from recycled sari fabric from India – so soft and comfortable. We also have comfy blankets and throws in wintery themes from snowflakes to reindeer to vintage station wagons hauling Christmas trees. (And there’s a certain soft and lifelike “chinchilla” pillow that would make Janet Mumme in Customer Service very happy.) Several of our team mentioned scented candles too. Each of our fragrant lines was someone’s favorite, including the Thymes Frasier Fir collection, the Himalayan patchouli candle, and the Nest candles. Dana also mentioned the avocado soap that we carry in our apothecary collection along with luxury bath products from Mistral and fragrant handmade soaps from the Benson Soap Mill.
Then there are some things that are just fun and put smiles on our faces. If Molly Pool, who brings in our incredible collection of German collectibles, could ask Santa for anything, she’d ask for either the two-tiered Christmas pyramid or one of the charming incense smokers. The one called Rambler with the Ukulele is her current favorite. Krissy Mendick, on our visual merchandising team, likes the little Santa bubble nightlight from Shiny Brite. She also wants the beautiful white church or the red lantern with glass sides – both are filled with glitter that swirls and sparkles when you plug them in. And Jenny Lockhart, on our Distribution team, would happily provide a home for the plush black bear standing with his hat on and holding a serving tray.
Everybody wants something special for Christmas, and our team has found several wonderful things throughout the store that they’d love to open on December 25th. Maybe there’s someone on your shopping list who would agree.
