The crowd wasn’t as large as in recent years, but the sales and the spirits were high at the St. George Village Botanical Gardens annual Christmas Spoken Here event Sunday.
Artist Jamila Hammad was one of many vendors who said sales were good, but couldn’t pin it down as to why. The crowd attending was not as large as previous years.
Vendor Roger Nickle said in past years one could not see through the crowds, but this year the walkway between the vendors was almost void of shoppers. Last weekend the Starving Artist Show and Sale was held at Whim Museum and vendors speculated that some residents were done with their local Christmas shopping.
But that wasn’t true for those who did show up. They bought plants, wall hangings, dolls, body care products, jewelry and more.
The volunteers in the nursery said sales there were strong. Volunteers said orchids were selling well.
The usual vendors were there – Richard Schrader selling his books, Roger Nickle selling his woodworks, and Veronica Gordon selling calabash. There was plenty of local food, drinks and sweets for purchase.
And, of course, local farmers were represented.
Lucy Cochran was selling fruits, vegetables, fruit stews, and sauces. She sold beautiful carambola at three for $1.
“If I didn’t come and sell I would say what did I miss?” Cochran said. “So I take a chance.”
The main attraction was the display at the great house of the Christmas trees decorated, donated and auctioned off at the gala. The garden’s annual Christmas tree auction and gala was held Friday in the Great House, but all the trees were still on display on Sunday. The tree created by the local artist group the Pallatters was the top money-maker, selling for $3,100 to benefit the garden. The ornaments were framed miniature original works of art. Last year the group’s tree sold for $2,100.
But that group’s tree was not the only one that was stunning. There were trees made with glittering gold and silver ribbons and balls, matching the event’s theme, “All That Glitters.”
Another tree was a tree decorated with old fashioned red and green felt ornaments with tiny Cruzan rum bottles in ribbons and cellophane. Mini moko jumbies in blue, purple, gold, and pink lame costumes adorned another fragrant tree.
If the gaily decorated trees were not enough to get visitors into the Christmas spirit, there was Santa Claus.
He was stationed across from the museum store in the Bodine Visitor’s Center and he took youngsters upon his knee and posed in his sleigh as parents happily snapped pictures.
For youngsters who still had Christmas enthusiasm to burn after posing with Santa there was a table set up with Marilyn Chakroff directing them in Christmas crafts.
