Oh Christmas Tree: Real Evergreens for a Traditional Southern Christmas

My memory often takes me back to the magical Christmas seasons of my childhood - trips to my grandparents' homes, nighttime visits to a live nativity scene across town, romps to the mall to sit on Santa's lap, and our attempts at making homemade divinity and other sweet confections. But nothing reminds me of Christmases past more than the fresh scent of a real Christmas tree on a crisp, winter morning. I treasure the memories of my family canvassing the woods a few weeks before Christmas in search of the perfect Eastern Red Cedar tree. It was the pinnacle of our holiday season. Some years we would emerge from the woods with a spectacular tree - bushy and full. Other years, we returned with a skimpy Charlie Brown Christmas tree in tow. It really didn't matter to us. Although artificial trees have become more popular through the years (especially the pre-lit trees), for some of us, a plastic replica will never replace the nostalgia and grandeur of a real Christmas tree. In fact, the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) estimates that 30 million families across the nation still plan to place their beautifully-wrapped gifts under a real tree this year, and many of those will come from local Christmas tree farms. Indeed, buying a tree from a local tree farmer not only ensures that you will get a fresh tree, but it also supports the local economy, and that's a good thing. And many Christmas tree farms also offer hot chocolate, hay rides, sleigh rides and other winter attractions and activities. Before you and your family jump into the car, measure the space where the tree will be displayed and decide on the tree's height and width before you make the trip. If you have eight-foot ceilings in your home, then a nine-foot tree simply will not work. Chopping the bottom off to reduce the height often ruins the shape and appearance of the tree. You may even want to take a tape measure with you to the tree farm. Next, consider the tree itself. A tree's shape, density, color, aroma, and needle retention vary by species. Here's a description of some common Southern varieties. BLUE ICE - This delicate, silvery, blue tree has a pretty raindrop shape and a pleasant evergreen-citrus aroma. The branches of a Blue Ice tree are not as strong as other species and don't support heavy lights and ornaments well. CAROLINA SAPPHIRE - These beautiful trees are pyramidal in shape and have a steely, blue-green color with dense, lacy foliage that is soft to the touch. The aroma is a combination of evergreen, lemon, and a hint of mint. CLEMSON GREEN SPIRE - These Christmas trees have an interesting blue-green color, strong aroma, strong limbs, and somewhat open foliage to hang dozens and dozens of ornaments. DOUGLAS FIR-Douglas Firs are known for their fragrance and their short, soft needles that extend in all directions from their sloped branches. EASTERN RED CEDAR - These Southern favorites are known for their strong aroma, dense foliage, and varying needle color such as dark bluish-green, silver, and even purple. FRASER FIR - These magnificent evergreens have dark blue-green, flattened needles, with good needle retention and a pleasant fragrance. The tree itself has a symmetric pyramid shape with branches that turn upward at the ends. LEYLAND CYPRESS - These beauties are known for their near-perfect shapes, their lovely dark green to gray color, and their sweet fragrance that doesn't bother most allergy sufferers. The branches are upright and have a feathery appearance. VIRGINIA PINE - Popular in the South, Virginia Pines have short needles that are medium to dark green in color. The foliage is extremely dense and the branches are strong and can withstand large, heavy ornaments. WHITE PINE - These full-bodied evergreens have a delicate, earthy scent and soft, blue-green needles, two to five inches long. White Pines are good choices for people with allergies, but the branches aren't as strong as some of the other Christmas tree varieties. Before cutting the tree, walk all the way around it to ensure that it doesn't have any unacceptable bare areas and thoroughly check for insects and diseased spots. Remove dead needles, dirt, and debris before you load the tree in your vehicle. After you get your tree home, ensure that it retains its magnificent fragrance and color by keeping it away from heat sources and watering it regularly. A tree will absorb as much as a gallon of water or more in the first twenty-four hours, and one or more quarts each day afterwards. If you are concerned about the messy needles that fall when you are taking the tree down, try this trick. Place a large plastic tree bag underneath the tree while you are setting it up. Roll it down, and hide it under the tree skirt. When the holidays are over, remove the skirt and pull the bag up around the tree. Carry it outside to a patio or deck and remove your lights and ornaments outside so the needles don't fall off all over your interior flooring. Real evergreens are biodegradable, so plan to recycle or reuse your tree after the holidays. Some communities collect trees during their regular curbside pickup schedules after the holiday season. Other communities offer drop off recycling centers that chip and shred the trees to produce mulch. If you are looking for a way to bring a smile to your children's faces and fill your home with old-fashioned Christmas spirit this season, consider purchasing a real Christmas tree from a local tree farmer. Pack up your family, take a short ride to a nearby Christmas tree farm, and make an unforgettable holiday memory. To find a Christmas tree farm near you, visit http://www.pickyourownchristmastree.org/ and follow the links to your state. Amber Lanier Nagle is the brainchild behind Project Keepsake http://www.ProjectKeepsake.com, a published collection of nonfiction stories about the origins and histories of keepsakes-a pocket knife, a cake pan, a quilt, a milking stool, etc. She says, "Everyone has a keepsake, and every keepsake has a story to tell. She's published hundreds of articles in national and regional magazines and has published two eBooks titled, "Southern Exposure" and "Have a Seat." Amber facilitates writing workshops on freelance writing, writing family stories, writing about keepsakes, and other topics. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amber_Lanier_Nagle