tt-130 BY DON MEEHAN

SELECTING A CHRISTMAS TREE

We are very fortunate to be living in the Pacific Northwest where several million Christmas trees are produced each year for national and international markets. You and your family are probably preparing to find that Perfect tree for this year. You'll have several options available to you as you begin. First, you might consider going artificial. With this option you'll find the trees are not exactly like the real thing, either in appearance or in smell. There is something special about the aroma of a Christmas tree in the house during Christmas that makes the season seem more real, especially if we do not have a white Christmas. The other choices that you have are to purchase a tree at a local Christmas tree lot. If this is what you think is best for your family consider several things. First, be sure the tree is fresh. Here is how you can tell. Run your finger down the branch, the needles should adhere to each twig, they should be resilient and not brittle. Shake or bounce the tree trunk on the ground lightly to see if only a few needles drop off. If the tree is not fresh many will fall. Does the tree have a strong fragrance and is it's color good? One way to be sure your tree is fresh, has resilient needles, good color, and has a strong fragrance is to cut your own. A couple of options are available. One is to obtain a tree cutting permit from the Forest Service. This will require going to their headquarters in Sedro Wooley. Call first to be sure they are selling permits. Then, if available, be prepared to drive a long way to get a tree which was grown under natural conditions. Generally these trees do not have the lushness and shape we have learned to love, but there are nice ones if you have patience to look. Don't forget to prepare your car or truck for the journey which may very well include driving in snow and ice. Another option is to buy your tree locally at a Christmas tree U-cut farm. What you will find, if you think this is the best way for your family, is that there will usually be a variety of trees available such as Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Pines, Noble fir, and Concolor fir. Needless to say, the trees will be fresh because they aren't cut down until you do it. The trees will have much better shape and density than those in the forest. You'll also be able to see the natural shape of the tree much easier. The tree farmer has invested lots of money and time into making them look good.




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