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Department stores do it, so why not garden centers? The Christmas season, which seems to start earlier and earlier at malls across the country, starts next week at Al's Garden Centers' three locations in Oregon.
Thousands of poinsettias and trees decorated by theme will help the venerable retail operation start the holiday season during the annual Evening of Lights at both the Sherwood and Woodburn stores. The lights and trees are a draw, no doubt, but it's the poinsettias that tend to take the customers' breath away, as row upon row of remarkable color helps get shoppers in the holiday mood in a hurry. In all, Al's has about 50 different varieties of poinsettias, including some that are painted.
The event will take place from 4-9 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Sherwood store and from 4-9 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Woodburn location. Al's Garden Centers' Gresham location isn't left out of the mix; it will hold an open house from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Nov. 5. Planned are tours of the poinsettia growing house, tips on growing these holiday plants and a noon seminar on Wonderful Plants for Winter.
All events are free, though registration is encouraged. To that end, Al's is offering a 10-percent-off coupon for registrants.
What Al's is offering, mainly, is a spectacular event to launch an important season, and the residual "Cha-ching!" is likely to sound like Christmas music to the garden center's operators' ears.
Looking for a Cha-ching! you might have missed? Go to the search box and type Cha-ching! Items are listed by date.