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Behnke's Christmas Shop,
Yesterday & Today

cowboy
Hand Blown Glass from Italy that my
mother in law bought around 1980 at Behnke's, and gave to me.

I love Christmas! Always have, always will!  When I was growing up, my mother Sonja Behnke Festerling decided to start Behnke's Christmas Shop. It started in what was known as the African Violet House with just a few little ornaments for the tree. Slowly she built it up, and after awhile my Aunt Ele Behnke took it over. For years, we were the place to go for everything you needed to decorate your home. Indoors and out! The room for the shop would be blacked out for months while everything was put in place. Then the BIG Reveal happened during the Oktoberfest we used to host (another story). Folks would line up to get in. It was simply magical. I remember the hot August summers upstairs in the warehouse, pricing everything by hand.  Later, when I got married and needed a little extra Christmas spending money, I got to work weekends in the Christmas Shop: plus, I made hundreds of bows at home. Life was Good!  While my kids were growing up we would carefully pick out treasures from Behnke's Christmas Shop. Hand blown icicles from Germany, along with glass ornaments from Italy and Germany. Nutcrackers every year for our fireplace mantle, and then there were the Dept. 56 Houses! (Who else has a basement full?) 

Writing this tonight, I am looking at my Christmas tree and there is a story behind every single thing on my tree. From the red glass octopus to the glass cowboy, each one holds a memory. When my children moved out to their own homes, they both took a box load from my tree. (you can hardly tell any ornaments are missing).

As times changed so did our Christmas Shop, and when Ele and my mother retired, we reduced the scope of the shop. For the last 3 years I have been lucky enough to be the buyer for Christmas. Slowly we have been bringing back some of the old favorites many remember from growing up, while finding new and exciting lines to share with our customers. In the past few emails, I have highlighted a few of those amazing companies. You can see them on our web site. 

Come January, I will be off to Atlanta to buy for 2014--which is perfect, as everything is fresh in my mind. Email me photos of your favorite ornaments and we will share them on our Facebook Page.
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Alfred Millard's 50 Years Of Creating Memories
Alfred Millard
Alfred Millard, Behnke's President creating Holiday Porch Pots at our Open House
 
Behnke Nurseries' President, Alfred Millard, has been bringing joy to the Christmas season for 50 years. Over the years Behnke's has sold over a million poinsettias (It's probably actually closer to 2 million!!)

 

One of the things that Alfred loves to do is to design. We tend to believe he would be just as happy in his shop or in the greenhouse planting up containers. He always has his graph paper and dull pencil with him and you will find sketch after sketch of his amazing ideas.   
This coming year, Alfred is rolling out our new container gardening program, where we will have seasonally appropriate containers year round. You will be able to buy a beautiful container in the Spring or bring us your favorite pot to plant up for you.. In the hot Summer we can help you spruce it up with new and unusual tropicals.

Terra Nova Nurseries, the plant breeding company that developed many of our most exciting perennials (most of our heuchera and heucherella, for example) has introduced a new line of cold tolerant foliage begonias.  Alfred loves begonias, and he will be growing 1,000 of these this spring. Imagine having colorful rex and cane begonias in your summer and fall containers, looking great right through Thanksgiving !  (We'll talk more about these begonias in January.) 

That brings us to this photo of Alfred where he is creating a simple Winter Winter Porch Pot Porch Pot at last week's open house. One of the best things about having a beautiful container is you can pull out the old annuals in November and create something exciting and new with fresh cut greens and branches of berries right from your yard. Just leave the soil in your pot, add the greens and for a Winter Seasonal look add a few glass balls, a bow, and even a strand of lights! Maybe a few bare branches even!  If you don't have access to greens, we do, in our wreath sales area! And we will be happy to help you fill your Winter Porch Pot.  

(If you water the soil in your porch pot every couple of weeks and mist the foliage, your evergreens will last a long time.) 
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Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree
Choose the perfect tree for your family. Why have a plastic tree that almost looks real, when you can have the real thing?  Behnke Nurseries features the following fresh-cut trees...because they have the best shape and best needle retention.

Fresh Cut Christmas Trees

 

Fraser Fir comprises the bulk of our selection; our trees come from farms in North Carolina and southern Virginia; in nature, they grow wild in the southern Appalachian mountains. Sturdy trees with good fragrance and long-lasting needles, they're dark green on the top and a contrasting silvery-blue underneath. Sizes range from table-top 3-4' to atrium-filling 14-15'.

 

Noble Fir is farmed in Oregon (where it is also native) and boasts very sturdy branches and green to blue-green needles that last well. Fragrance is "piney" with a hint of citrus (smells like grapefruit to some people) and the trees weigh noticeably more than the other firs (good for those heavy decorations). Sizes range from 5-6' to 8-9'.

 

Douglas Fir is back! These Pennsylvania-grown trees have flexible branches, a strong orange-pine scent and bright green needles. Some trees are very fluffy and wide, while others are more compact. Sizes range from 3-5' to 6-7'.

 

Nordmann Fir is another uncommon tree with sturdy branches and dark green glossy needles. Scent is minimal but trees are beautifully shaped and hold their needles well. Selection is limited and trees are 5-6' and 6-7', also from Oregon.

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Want a Choice? We Have
Too Many Wreaths to Show!
  wreaths 2013
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National Poinsettia Day on Dec. 12th 
Buy TWO  Poinsettias in 6 inch diameter pots,
Get the THIRD One FREE!
Many colors to choose from: Red, White, Pink, Marble--the ever popular 'Winter Rose Red'--and many other novelty varieties.
National Poinsettia Day
Did you know that the poinsettia has a special day all its own? By an Act of Congress, December 12 was set aside as National Poinsettia Day. The date marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who is credited with introducing the native Mexican plant to the United States. The purpose of the day is to enjoy the beauty of this popular holiday plant. So, be sure to give a poinsettia to someone your love, on December 12, National Poinsettia Day! (In-store customers only)~ Text courtesy of the Paul Ecke Ranch
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This Week's Behnke's Garden Club Special:
25% Off All Artificial Wreaths, Garland & Picks
Plus,  35% Off All Lenox Ornaments
Bunch of greens

If you're a member of our FREE Garden Club you can take advantage of our weekly specials just for you!

25% OFF
ALL Artificial Wreaths, Artificial Garland and picks in the Christmas Shop! (Dec.11-18)

Santa lenox
Lenox's
Thomas Blackshear
2013 Santa
35% Off our Entire Line of Lenox,including the Thomas Blackshear's collection and more, like
The Angel Of Grace Peace Ornament. Brings the meaning of the season to your home. Crafted of hand-painted porcelain accented with gold, this beautiful ornament makes a thoughtful gift.
Lenox

Must be a member of our
FREE Garden Club

Update Information
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Santa's Little Elf
Santas Elf

Don't blink! That really was an elf you saw at our Beltsville Garden Center. She is our very own Elf on a Bench! She is Santa's helper and she is the elf who reads to children on Saturdays at 12pm and again at 4pm. Bring your kids to play in the children's area and listen to Santa's elf with "The Night before Christmas", at 12pm and "Frosty the Snowman" at 4pm.

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Gift Cards From Behnke's!
Holiday Gift Card

Running short on time? Behnke's Gift Cards
are perfect for the Gardeners in your life!

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Houseplants Make Terrific Hostess Gifts Too..
christmas houseplants
 
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toys for tots 
For years, Behnke's has been proud to be part of the Toys for Tots campaign with the United States Marines. You can bring your NEW unwrapped toy to either of our locations and they will be picked up by the Marines in time to make the children in our area happy.  This is the last weekend you may make a drop. The Marines need to collect the gifts next week! 

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Behnke's Quick Buttons
 Just click on the blue button for a direct link

Garden Tips Boxwood
December's Gardening To-Do List

Flora Feature
December Featured Arrangement: "Precious Metals"
Made from fresh-cut boxwood
Weekly Sales
Most trees and shrubs, half-price.   
Remaining perennials at Beltsville, $3.99 each,
excludes Winter Hellebores, which are 25% off.

Garden Blog
Fun Times at the Christmas Open House
by Susan Harris, Behnke's Garden Blogger 

BPPS
Taking appointments for  yard clean up.
Activities
SAVE THE DATE:
Dec. 14: The National Capital Area Chapter of the Gesneriad Society Open House
at our Beltsville Garden Center.  From 10:30 to 11:30  Visitors Welcomed.

Dec. 21: The Pearls Sing for the Holidays -
A capella music from Eleanor Roosevelt High School Noon - 2pm

contact us
Button Watch Our Videos
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Behnke Nurseries
Beltsville:  301-937-1100
  Potomac: 301-983-9200
Florist: 301-983-4400
Web Site: www.behnkes.com

Behnke's December  Hours


Beltsville
Monday  - Saturday ~ 9 to 7
Sunday ~ 9 to 6

Potomac
Monday - Saturday  9- 7
Sunday 9 - 6
 
Note: The Behnke Florist is closed on Sunday