Get Gifting! Our Holiday Guide to the Best Colorado-made Presents

Hear those bells jingling? That’s the sound of the holidays arriving at the Shop at the Gardens! This season, the Shop is a one-stop destination decked out in perfect gifts for everyone on your list, from baby’s first Christmas to the hostess who has everything. And this year, we’re keeping it local.

To help get you started on your shopping, we’ve curated our guide to some very special finds from our favorite homegrown artists and craftspeople. These Colorado-made gifts are sure to bring a smile to any unwrapping and a touch of the Gardens to your holidays.  

Explore these and more one-of-a-kind gifts when you visit the Shop, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. daily through January 11, no admission required (normal hours resume January 12). Or visit us 4:30-9 p.m. with your admission to Blossoms of Light. As always, members receive a special 10% discount. And don’t forget – as part of our dedication to sustainability, the Shop is now paper bag-less, so please bring your own shopping bag or plan to purchase one of our reusable totes.

Wishing you the very happiest holidays from the Shop at the Gardens!

For the Sweet Tooth: Local Treats

Pollinator Chocolates $14-$16
Denver Macarons $9-$18
Bee Squared Honey 10-Pack $5

When it comes to our go-to confections, we love to stay close to home. Anyone’s inner child will be thrilled to receive a handmade candy bar studded with dried fruits, flower petals or even bee pollen, courtesy of Carbondale’s Pollinator Chocolate while Denver Macaron specializes in vegan macarons in your favorite flavors. For the perfect on-the-good taste of sweetness, try Bee Squared Apiary’s many varieties of local honey in convenient sticks.

For Self-Care

Lavender Bath Salts $12
Lavender Pillow Spray $8
Lavender Lotion Bar $10.50

Pamper a loved one with an at-home spa day filled with essentials from Denver Botanic Gardens Guild. Highlighting lavender grown by the Guild at Chatfield Farms, this bath salt, lotion and pillow spray are lovingly crafted by volunteers and can transform an average day into an ahh day.

For the Gardener: Memories To Treasure

Denver Botanic Gardens Flower Press $25.95

Give a gift that’s truly timeless by turning fresh-from-your-garden flowers into treasured keepsakes. With solid wood and metal construction, our flower press helps ensure any bloom is dried and pressed in all its natural beauty.

For the Outdoorsy: Local Guidebooks

The Best Front Range Bird Hikes $24.95
The Colorado 14ers $14.95
Colorado Scrambles $24.95

Have you taken a moment to peruse the Shop’s book section? With scores of titles ranging from garden care to tarot, you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list. A few of our favorites for the adventure-bound include details on local hikes and field guides to Colorado’s birds, wildflowers and fungi.

For the Tree: A Hint of Glamour 

The Furnace Glass Ornaments, $42.50-$45

Handblown by the master makers at The Furnace on West Colfax, these stunning baubles add a touch of elegance to any tree. Each ornament is truly unique and as special as each person on your gift list.

For the Holiday Table: All The Christmas Trees!

Shane Porter Votive Covers $35 each

Aurora-based ceramicist Shane Porter brings his whimsical style and signature bird details to these miniature trees. With the addition of a small votive, watch them glow from within with the joy of the season.

For the Spiritual Friend: The Garden Year

The Growing Home Garden Year Calendar, $34

A collaboration between garden educator Erin O’Neill and the artist/printmaker Rebecca Lee Kunz, this calendar is a beautiful guide through the growing year, highlighting what to plan for in the garden each month. But the inner garden also needs looking after, and the calendar also charts what to tend in the garden of your soul throughout the seasonal cycles.

For the Birdwatcher: Local Birds, Brought Indoors

Paula Romero Schmitt Bird Figures, $85-$110

For the birder in your life – or anyone drawn to adorable handmade figures with incredible attention to detail – the work of Paula Romero Schmitt simply sings. These joyful creations are molded in porcelain, carved and textured with fine clay tools, and finished with watercolor-like glazes. They add a bit of cheer and a touch of beauty to any space.  

For the Caffeine Addict: Traditional Technique, Modern Aesthetic

Kazu Oba Coffee Dripper $45-60

For the coffee-obsessed, sometimes it pays to do things the old-fashioned way, and the same goes for potter Kazu Oba. From his studio nestled in the foothills of Boulder County, he embraces the millennia-old method of salt glazing to give his pieces a timeless finish, and this coffee dripper is no exception. With a filter and your beans of choice, this handcrafted stoneware will ensure a perfect cup every time.

For Everyone: The Perfect Stocking Stuffer

Down to Earth Pottery Little Dishes $9.95

Colorado Springs-based potters Les Kitchen and Mark Shepard hand-throw and meticulously craft each of these little dishes. Their use of recycled glass means no two are identical, just like all those special people in your life. What to use them for? Loose change, jewelry, burning incense, wet tea bags, candles – the options are limitless!
 

This gift guide was hand-crafted by Gift Shop Representative Benjamin Jackson.