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Deck the Halls
Advent Wreaths
Christmas Tree
Outdoor Lighting
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The quintessential icon of the Christmas season; a freshly cut fir tree is fragrant, naturally beautiful and easy to care for.
Call your local nursery in November to find out when they are getting their Christmas trees delivered. If you have the opportunity to store the tree outside until the time comes to put it up, buy as early as possible. Many nurseries and tree sellers for that matter don't keep the trees in water. When you buy the tree, have the gardener saw at least an inch off the bottom of the trunk. At home place the tree in a large bucket of water. Do not remove the wrapping string at this time. You can store the tree for 3 to 4 weeks in a cool area out of the wind and sun and not do any damage to it.
Before you head off to the tree lot: Measure the diameter of your tree stand. Also measure the height of the room where the tree will be standing. Don't forget to allow for the tree topper. Christmas trees appear much smaller standing outside on a lot. Write the measurements down for your trip to the nursery and also for the coming years tape them onto the box with the tree stand.
Caring for your life Christmas tree
Different tree species
When it's time to put up the tree:
- If the tree is frozen, has ice on the branches or is wet, thaw it out slowly and allow it to drip dry somewhere other than your carpet.
- Decide on a good placement for the tree. The tree must never be placed near a heat source.
- Make a new cut on the bottom of the tree (remove 1/2 inch to 1 inch).
- Cover the floor under the tree with a big plastic sheet and put a decorative piece of fabric on top of it. The plastic will protect the floor from the water that gets spilled while refilling the tree stand.
- Place the tree in a tree stand that is large enough to hold at least one gallon of water.
- Maintain the tree throughout the season by checking the water level twice a day in the beginning. After about two weeks, the tree will drink less water as it starts slowly to dry out. Also spray water mist onto the branches, be careful though, not all ornaments like that.
 Real or plastic?
Nothing can replace a real Christmas tree. Artificial trees consist of plastics and metals that are not biodegradable. For every real Christmas tree harvested, 2 to 3 seedlings are planted in its place. There are about 1 million acres in production for growing Christmas trees. Each acre provides the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people and gives a home to many animals.
The "perfect" looking tree for many people is absolute symmetry. This might be one reason why some people prefer artificial trees. Naturalists on the other hand embrace the character and "imperfections" of a real tree. Even the clipping of the tips to make it look more symmetrical hurts their heart.
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Why Christmas trees aren't perfect
Long, long ago, in a land far away, lived a perfect little tree named Small Pine. Small Pine hoped to maintain its perfect form and be selected by the Queen as her Christmas tree. But as the warmhearted little tree gave shelter to birds, rabbits, and deer in the forest, its branches became damaged. Fortunately, the Queen had a different idea of perfection.
The Queen, her family and all the villagers said that Small Pine was the finest Christmas tree yet. For in looking at its drooping, nibbled branches, they saw the protecting arm of their father or the comforting lap of a mother. And some, like the wise Queen, saw the love of Christ expressed on earth.
So if you walk among evergreens today, you will find, along with rabbits, birds and other happy living things, many trees like Small Pine. You will see a drooping limb which gives cover, a gap offering a warm resting place, or branches ragged from feeding hungry animals.
For, as have many of us, the trees have learned that living for the sake of others makes us most beautiful in the eyes of God.
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