Gardens of holiday fun

Gardens, nurseries and garden stores offer a sleigh full of holiday festivities, entertainment, gift and decorating ideas. They make a perfect family outing, too, as many feature outdoor-lighting displays, holiday-photo settings, children's programs, refreshments and other events. Among the scheduled events are:

Garden of Light

THRU DEC.23 Stroll through a lighted garden featuring stars, angels, reindeer, peace dove, frogs and a ladybug, and look for a Japanese red pine hung with a galaxy of globes, from dusk-5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday through Dec. 23 and dusk to 4 p.m. Sunday; free (206-842-5888 or www.bainbridgegardens.com).

Garden d'Lights

THRU JAN. 1 Holiday light show features three-dimensional flowers, plants and critters designed from strings of thousands of sparkling outdoor minilights, 5-9:30 p.m. through Jan. 1, Bellevue Botanical Gardens, 12001 Main St., Bellevue; free (425-451-3755 or www.bellevuebotanical.org).

Festival of Poinsettias

THRU DEC. 24 More than 50 varieties of poinsettias, along with a garden cafe, trees, wreaths, decorations, holiday-photo backdrops, plant seminars, children's activities, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday; Molbak's, 13625 N.E. 175th St., Woodinville (425-483-5000 or www.molbaks.com).

Reindeer holiday and Santa, too

THRU DEC. 24 Santa's reindeer resting for their big night, daily, with special children's reindeer events, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Dec. 24, Santa available for pictures, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, Swanson's Nursery, 9701 15th Ave. N.W., Seattle; free (206-782-2543 or www.swansonsnursery.com).

Wreath making

THRU DEC. 23 Free wreath-and swag-making demonstrations, then schedule a time to make your own using Bainbridge Garden machines; call to schedule a time to make a wreath through Dec. 23, Bainbridge Gardens, 9415 Miller Road N.E., Bainbridge Island (reservation line: 206-842-5888 or www.bainbridgegardens.com).

Holiday Wreath Fundraiser

THRU DEC. 23 Purchase one-of-a-kind evergreen wreaths to benefit the Friends of the Animals Foundation and Feral Care, through Dec. 23, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, 4410 California Ave. S.W., Seattle; $15-$50 (206-935-1510 or www.hotwirecoffee.com).

Make a Wreath

THRU SUN Free demonstrations, and learn how to make a wreath to keep or send as a gift; dress warmly and bring pruners, 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. daily through Sunday, Emery's Garden, 2829 164th St. S.W., Lynnwood; cost depends on materials, shipping (reservations: 425-743-4555).