Christmas trees... fake vs. real?

[dragoneggs]

We went out and bought a real tree for the first time in a few years today, after going with a plastic one inherited when my mom passed. Didn't like it but felt bad not using it, sentimental I guess...couldn't bring myself to give it away. Liked the convenience but hated storing it.

Anyways, loving the smell of a fresh cut tree this year. Especially since we will be spending more time around it this Christmas. Looking forward to 2020 being hindsight.

Poll... curious how many go real or go fake?

 

[Jstpssng]

I live alone, so on Christmas Eve will go out and cut a Charlie Brown tree about 4 feet tall, nail pine boards on the bottom for a stand, put a few lights on it and take it out Christmas night. An artificial tree wouldn't even be worth putting up. :thumbdown:

 

[MossRoad]

Real. We cut our own every year.

 

[RSR]

Real tree all the way!

 

[MossRoad]

One year we had the added fun of a preying mantis egg case hatch out when it warmed up in the house. Maybe 2-300 of the little things crawling around the house for weeks.

 

[ericm979]

There's a lot of christmas tree farms in my area. We usually patronize one that's open on self-service basis on weekdays to avoid the crowds. Sometimes we're just not that into it and put up a tiny fake tree. Most other places I've lived had local tree farms or miles of woods where you could cut your own so I have usually had real trees I cut myself. There's no wrong answer to this question, it's all good.

Agree on 2020. I don't want to wish away my time on earth so I have not been wishing for it to end. But I hope everyone here and their loved ones make it through 2020 ok and 2021 is better for all.

 

[ultrarunner]

Timely Thread...

This is the first time in 7 years I am not helping out at my brother's Christmas Tree farm... done to keep mom safe.

It's been a family concern since day one... they bought an old homestead on 65 acres from the original family going back to the 1850's and for 39 years raised Christmas Trees to pay taxes.

At just under 30k property taxes my brother and his wife decided to give it a go... even buying two Kubotas the L3800 and RTV900.

They raise trees for U-Cut and bring down trees from their 20 acres in Oregon...

2020 is unique in that they sold the entire 2300 trees as of tonight... last year they had 400 left over... also wreaths and garland all gone.

People just trying to have a normal Christmas in anything but normal times... the news crews have been great with covering Covid 19 changes and requirements...no more popcorn and hot cider and the farm animals have not come out... just the old 1948 Farmall with wagon which is on a lot of a Christmas Cards...

So having a artificial tree would get me booted from the family... and we have never brought home a tree from the farm as we give them to the youth shelter...

A couple of years back it was Christmas Eve and locking the gates... only 3 trees left... one spectacular 9' Noble and two Charlie Brown...

Family looking down on their luck comes in and dad tells young son they are too late and no tree this year and they get back in the car... I knock on window and hear a discussion about Santa won't know where to put presents with no tree.

Hearing this I say Santa wants you to have the tree... Mom is in years, boy is all excited and Dad bewildered...

It's fun to be Santa and got the nod of approval from my brother.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I was told this years ago by someone. Find a tree at roadside, and cut off the top. Looks like a christmas tree and he donor continues to grow. We have to stop thinking about just what suits us best.

 

[ultrarunner]

The Nobles are the most popular, but everything goes this year including Nordman, Fraser, Grand and Douglas Fir.

I brought in a limited number of Silver Tips through my connections in the old car club... for some European families Silver Tip is the only tree...

Last year I got called to the booth to identify a tree... it was a 6' redwood my brother had just planted earlier in the year near the house... he wasn't all too happy about that one...

 

[Jstpssng]

I was told this years ago by someone. Find a tree at roadside, and cut off the top. Looks like a christmas tree and he donor continues to grow. We have to stop thinking about just what suits us best.

Why would you do that? A Christmas tree is +- 13 years old. They will plant another next year.That tree that you are cutting the top out of is never going to grow straight afterward.