Notes From the Observation Deck: A Little Bit of Christmas Magic

This past weekend was the big Christmas open house at Holland Gardens on 50th and Memphis in Lubbock.

Because I am still very much new to Lubbock, I would have not known about this spectacular place if it hadn't been for Ariana getting a job there decorating Christmas trees. (I am SO jealous! It's not fair that she gets to have all the fun!)

From the outside, Holland Gardens looks like a plain, unassuming garden center that's usually attached to the end of a "big Box" hardware store.

But appearances can be deceiving, and in this case they most certainly are.

Step into Holland Gardens and you're immediately transported to another world ~ a magical world populated by elves and angels and a vast sparkling forest of gussied-up Christmas trees in every size, shape, and color imaginable.

Christmas spirit permeates every nook and cranny of this most breathtaking shop. Everywhere you look the eye beholds wonder and magic.

One look Inside Holland Gardens and it's obvious that the traditional notion of uniform-sized ornaments isn't the only way to go when it comes to decorating a Christmas tree.

This over-sized mask works quite well in this masquerade-themed tree.

And who says you can't celebrate Mardi Gras at Christmas time?

This sumptuous multi-colored ornament is about the size of a soccer ball!

Everywhere you turn you get a feast for the eyes.

Each tree has a different theme and color scheme. Yet they all harmoniously blend together.

The elegant green background contrasts nicely with the rich plum and terracotta tones of this "Plum Elegance" tree. (By the way, this is one of the trees that Ariana decorated.)

These mirror disco balls provide the focal points for the "Silver Dazzle" tree.

"Totally Topaz" is one of my favorite trees. The bright teal color of the tree really accentuates the rich warmth of the brown decorations. Who would have though that this paring of 2 unlikely colors would have made such an elegant statement?

"Black Platinum" is another favorite. (God! With so many beautifully decorated trees at Holland Gardens, it is REALLY hard to pick just one favorite!)

I really love this black bird. It looks right at home, like it's getting ready to roost for the night.

For lovers of music, there are 2 offerings: this musical instrument-themed tree

and this one entitled "Joyful Sounds."

Music and Christmas go hand-in-hand. After all, have you ever heard of Halloween hymns and Thanksgiving caroles?

No matter which way you turn, there is always something to delight the eye.

For the young at heart, there are many trees to delight in, such as this "Wild Treasures" tree.

What little girl wouldn't love this purple "Barbie Doll" tree?

And those of an older generation may remember the sock monkey dolls of their youth.

Speaking of sock monkeys, take a look at this!

From Winnie the Pooh

to Mr. Spock, these trees beckon to our childhood dreams and youthful fantasies,

while others voice our hopes, such as this "Ribbons of Hope" tree that pays homage to breast cancer survivors. (Ariana also decorated this tree.)

It may not be as big and sparkly as the other trees, but this small yet unwavering tree stands strong and straight as an important reminder that Life is a gift, and that not all gifts lie under the Christmas tree.

This pair reminds us that not only were the angels present at Lord Jesus's birth, but they also touch our lives on a daily basis, even when we may not realize it.

How easy it is to drink in the intoxicating richness of this deep blue "Nautical Treasures" detail.

"Arctic Frost" is another example of how easy it is to get lost in all this sumptuous blue detail.

The rich gold detail is a visual reminder that "Peace On Earth" is truly precious.

The "Asian Art" tree is deceptive in its simplicity.

Even for someone who is not too crazy about pink, I find plenty to like about "Pretty In Pink."

Thank God that this tree, "Bells, Bells, Bells" illustrates only the first part of the poem by Edgar Allen Poe. (The latter part of the poem is much more fitting for Halloween.)

One of the popular themes is patriotism, such as patriotism for one's country,

for one's state,

and for one's favorite university football team. (Get your guns up! Go Raiders!)

Elves are always a popular theme at Christmas time. And I suppose they can be filled with pranks,

such as turning this Christmas tree upside-down! Actually, this is one of many upside-down trees at Holland Gardens. Upside-down Christmas trees actually make a lot of sense, especially in rooms that are too small to accommodate the base of a full Christmas tree.

With an upside-down Christmas tree, you get to enjoy having a full-sized Christmas tree without having to sacrifice a lot of space. And all that extra space means room for more presents under the tree!

I thought this was a pretty elf tableau.

But my favorite is this fellow, who reminds me of Puck from "A Midsummer's Night Dream."

And for someone who's had a bit too much to drink, I suppose this fellow could be called "Elvish." (Sorry, I could not resist! LOL)

But the most famous elf of all is Santa Claus.

What little child wouldn't love to catch Santa coming down the chimney?

Here's a stunning, nearly life-size Santa decoration.

I love this white Santa. And from the sweet angelic expression on his face, you would never know that he was a real pain to set up and that setting him up involved putting him on top a box and shoving a stick up is you-know-what to keep him from toppling over.

Of course no Christmas open house would be complete without the real Santa showing up.

And Santa's not just for little kids. Big kids like him too. (I wonder what was on that lady's Christmas list that made Santa's cheeks get so red. LOL)

There are ornaments of all sorts at Holland Gardens. This display represents just a small fraction the store's entire collection. There's also a large wall filled with hundreds of ornaments to choose from.

But if you're only going to choose one ornament, how 'bout this huge Santa?

For those who have high ceilings, these opulent grape clusters make a stunning statement,

as does this HUGE gold sequined globe. And when I say "HUGE", I mean HUGH!

In addition to ornaments, you will find garlands and sprays at Holland Gardens. I loved how this wall display looked. I could somehow picture this along side a jewel-like lily pond.

There's even a large thematic displaye for hunting aficionados in mind.

You don't have to be a deer hunter

or a duck hunter to appreciate the whimsy of these ornaments.

And if you're hunting for the perfect Christmas tree,

you have a whole forest of Christmas trees to choose from.

I've never seen brown Christmas trees before. And I must admit that with the right type of decoration and color scheme, a chocolate brown Christmas tree can be stunning.