NoCo: A guide to shopping local for the holidays

Hooray! No need to fight the city traffic to get your Christmas shopping done in style. There are many exciting gift possibilities in and around Wellington.

Bomgaar’s manager Deb Baker is proud of the store’s great selection of toys from John Deere battery-operated go-carts to wagons and bicycles of all sizes. And check out the cute mini gaiters in bright colors and polka dots that will keep small feet and legs dry and warm. “We have everything from winter clothing for adults and children to safes to stash away that Christmas money to a whole line of practical automobile accessories” Baker said. Bomgaars just east of Interstate 25 at 4104 Jefferson Ave.

Jax Ranch and Home, 1000 N. U.S. 287 is the place to go if there’s someone on your Christmas list you’d like to help get prepared for winter on the ranch. They can fill every need from horse blankets to tank heaters. And don’t forget the Carhartts; Jax has a complete line. “We have stocked new toys for the holiday season,” manager Brandon Alber said. He also suggests taking a look at the array of gift items available in the home décor section of the store.

Ingrained Bakery, 3706 Cleveland Ave., will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday all through the holiday season. Owner Callie Koch bakes from scratch early every morning which means if you time it just right, you can literally be back home while your bread or cranberry walnut rolls are still warm from the oven. Also sample Koch’s delicious seasonal cookies and pumpkin Danish rolls. What could be better than to have a hometown bakery!

Looking for something for the craftsperson on your list? Stop in at Ruth Wallick’s Northern Colorado Stained Glass Supply at 3000 N. Overland Trail in LaPorte. There you’ll find suncatchers, small stained glass window panels to hang, jewelry, beads, rocks and crystals. Wallick suggests an introductory class for a gift — it takes up no space and could lead to the start of a satisfying hobby. She also carries hard-to-find cut crystals that can be hung to reflect light or incorporated into a piece of art.

Fort Collins Nursery, 2121 E. Mulberry in Fort Collins can help make the season bright in lots of ways. Marketing manager Dan Booth suggests choosing from vintage light bulbs for indoors or out, or creating a living wall with attractive self-watering hydrofalls wall planters. The nursery also has decorative, colorful UV resistant art poles to decorate your garden, available in winter and garden themes. For something truly unique, consider molten glass globes made from combinations of thick glass melted over gnarled tropical wood to form sculptures that can be used as terrariums, vases or aquariums. Mixed succulents offer a less traditional take on holiday greenery. They come planted in moss wreaths, wood frames or festive animal-shaped baskets. Perfect for a sunny spot indoors or outside in summer. Fort Collins Nursery is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Local news lovers will be happy to receive either North Forty News or the Wellington Weekly—or both—in their mailbox for an entire year. Cost is $26 for North Forty News and $39 for Wellington Weekly. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Proper Time, the elegant little watch and jewelry shop at 3744 Cleveland Ave. in downtown Wellington, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and for the last two weeks in December will open 10-6 on Mondays. Owners Diana and Peter Pronko feature fine Southwest jewelry, earrings, birthstones, rings, necklaces and bracelets. Gift certificates are available for merchandise or watch repair.