For many of us, one of our favorite parts of the holiday season is gazing at holiday decorations — whether a towering tree in our own living room, driving through the neighborhood on a snowy evening or shopping malls and city centers illuminated with twinkling lights.
When it comes to creating our own vignettes, not everyone is blessed with the golden touch. This is when local services, whose goal is to help you create your own winter wonderland — whether Christmas, Chanukah or anything else you celebrate — come in handy.
Step inside English Gardens (englishgardens.com) in West Bloomfield this time of year, and you’ll swear you’ve wandered into a snow globe — minus the chill. Trees shimmer with ribbon and light, wreaths sparkle from every corner and the aisles hum with people debating between “classic cozy” and “modern glam” for this year’s theme.
“We really offer everything you need for a beautiful Christmas,” says Olivia Zarndt, vice president of marketing. “From lifelike trees — we call them that because they look so real — to wreaths, garlands and more lights than you can imagine. It feels like a Christmas wonderland you can walk through.” Also available are workshops for adults and kids.
Each section tells its own story. Maybe it’s a frosted woodland scene with silver foxes and birch ornaments. Or a bold, jewel-toned tree dripping in glitter and berries.
“Our buyers create all these unique themes to give people inspiration,” Zarndt says. “Even if you just take one idea, it’s fun to see what’s possible.”
Whether you come to shop or simply soak in the sparkle, English Gardens makes it easy to catch that rush of holiday joy — the kind that reminds you why you love this season in the first place.