Exploring the best of Toronto and Southern Ontario.

Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope you’re having a great weekend, and that you enjoyed my last post about The Barntique. If you read it, you may recall that I was lamenting my lateness when it comes to this year’s Christmas gift shopping. Well, I may be late on some things, but there’s one holiday task I always accomplish early every year: decorating! I just love the festive feel of a house that’s decked out in full holiday splendor, so typically I have all my decorations up by mid-November. If you love Christmas decor as much as I do, then I think you’re going to love today’s post! Whether you still have some decorations to purchase or are just looking for inspiration, Vandermeer Nursery is a must-visit.

Located in Ajax, Vandermeer Nursery is Durham Region’s largest garden centre. The family-run business – founded by Dutch-Canadian immigrant Adrian Vandermeer – began as a small garden centre in 1961, and has undergone multiple expansions over the decades. What started as one 80′ x 50′ greenhouse on one acre of land has evolved into 200,000 square feet of greenhouse space, spread over seven buildings and 36 acres. Vandermeer Nursery now grows thousands of plants for every season and is still proudly family-run.

With their incredible plant selection, koi and turtle ponds, and in-house café (more on that below) Vandermeer Nursery is a worthwhile destination any time of year, but especially so during the holidays! Every year in November and December, the nursery transforms into a bona fide winter wonderland. From trees, wreaths and planters to festive flowers, ornaments and decor, it’s a one-stop shop for all things Christmas. I’d recently discovered the nursery via Instagram, so when I found myself in Durham Region a couple of weeks ago (meeting friends for brunch in Whitby) I knew I had to stop by.

Outside the nursery, you’ll find a huge selection of Christmas trees and other greenery, from boughs to wreaths to planters.

Stepping inside the nursery feels like walking into Santa’s workshop! Every square inch of the sprawling space is filled with Christmas cheer. I knew the nursery would be big, but I honestly didn’t expect it to be quite so huge. I spent over an hour just wandering around the space and checking everything out. Every time I thought I’d seen it all, I came across something new! I was truly like a kid in a candy store.

Each year, Vandermeer Nursery decorates several Christmas trees, and they each have their own theme and colour scheme. From traditional reds to glam jewel tones, natural greens to frosty blues, each tree was prettier than the next. I spotted nine different trees, and though I loved them all, if I had to pick a favourite it’d be this one…

If you’re like me and have trouble deciding on a decor scheme for your tree, this is a great place to get some inspiration! It’s like the pages of a decorating magazine come to life. You can also “shop the tree” if there’s any particular ornaments you like.

Naturally, Vandermeer has a ton – and I mean a ton – of plants. Their festive plants are only a small part of their whole collection, but their vibrant pointsettias and cyclamen take center stage in December. Check out those colours!

In addition to plants and greenery, the nursery has a massive collection of holiday decor to suit every style. They have ornaments and wall art, angels and Santa Clauses, gnomes and nutcrackers, Christmas villages and nativity scenes… am I missing anything??

One of my favourite decorations I put up every year is my Christmas village. It’s not huge, nor is it cohesive – the houses are all different sizes, some light up and some don’t – but its hodgepodge nature is what I love about it. I’ve added various pieces to it over the years, and I’m always looking for new additions to the collection. So when I saw this gorgeous, glitzy gingerbread house for 20% off, I couldn’t resist! It cost under $25 with the discount, and now sits proudly as the centerpiece to the village. (By the way… when I visited the store a couple of weeks ago, all Christmas decor was 20% off, but they’ve now upped that to 30%. So if you’re looking for a great deal, now’s your chance!)

After exploring every nook and cranny of the greenhouse, I needed to refuel. La Casita Del Café is a mobile coffee shop in an Instagram-worthy pink trailer that’s parked right inside the nursery. In addition to their regular coffee menu, they also create fun seasonal specialty beverages.

Of course I had to get one of their holiday lattes! I was torn between the Peppermint Mocha and the Gingerbread Lattes – two of my Starbucks favourites – but went for the Gingerbread Cookie Butter Latte, and I’m so glad I did. (It was the cookie butter that sold me.) I got it iced, which sounds like a strange choice for a winter beverage, but remember – I was inside a greenhouse! I love iced coffee, so it was nice to have an excuse to enjoy one out-of-season.

Now, I’ll admit the specialty lattes are on the pricier side – mine cost just under $10 – but it was worth every penny. From the decadent ingredients to the charming presentation (how cute is the gingerbread man on top!?) I’d consider it more of a deluxe dessert than a regular old coffee. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised to find that – despite the cookie butter and whipped cream – the drink wasn’t overly sweet. And you can also get a “regular old coffee” too – they’re less expensive, and I’m sure just as good!

Special shout-out to the baristas at the café who were so lovely to chat with, and even came to check on me and ask how I was enjoying my drink. They provide complimentary infused water for guests – such a nice touch, especially in the warm greenhouse. The day I visited, they were giving out free sugar cookies to celebrate them reaching 10,000 followers on Instagram. Be sure to give them a follow!

If you’re in need (or want) of some cute Christmas decorations, tree decorating inspo or a decadent holiday drink, then you should definitely add Vandermeer Nursery to your list! They’re open every Monday-Friday from 8am-8pm, and every Saturday-Sunday from 8am-6pm.

When do you usually put up your holiday decorations?