Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree

Lisa Billings/Chesterfield Observer Bryan Sr., Bryan Jr. (on shoulders) and Courtney Leeds, along with family friend, Tyler Botset (left), hunt for the perfect Christmas tree at Windy Ridge Tree Farm in Midlothian.

They're sprouting up at vacant lots, parking lots and stores. You'll notice them bundled on top of cars and stuffed into car trunks. Eventually, they end up in most homes.

They are Christmas trees.

The National Christmas Tree Association claims around 25-30 million live trees are sold in the U.S. every year. Last year, they estimated 31.3 million trees were sold with a retail value of approximately $1.3 billion. Sales of live trees outpace those of artificial trees three to one.

In the U.S., Oregon leads the states with almost 6.5 million trees harvested. North Carolina ranks second with almost three million trees, and Virginia ranks eighth with about 507,000 trees harvested.

The Christmas tree we know today probably had its start in Germany during the 16th century. Devout Christians decorated trees to grace their household. The History Channel notes, "Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce."

Lisa Billings/Chesterfield Observer Tammy Hirschy, co-owner of Windy Ridge Tree Farm, makes wreaths from fresh-cut greenery.

Tree lights could be credited to Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer. Accounts say that while walking home one night, Luther was enraptured with the stars twinkling through the evergreens. To capture that brilliant night, he brought an evergreen tree into his house and wired candles on the branches.

The popularity of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, combined with an illustration of them with their children around a Christmas tree, helped to introduce the Christmas tree into the homes of Britain and America.

Meet the trees

The red cedar, a native tree in our woodlands, is a favorite choice in the South. The tree has dark, green foliage, is bedecked with bluish, berry-like conelets and has a wonderful scent. It retains its needles well, but its prickly foliage demands careful handling.

White pine, another native tree in our landscape, has bluish-green needles and a natural pyramid-shape. As with all pines, the needles are clustered in groups called fascicles. White pine is the only pine in the eastern U.S. with five needles per fascicle. The almost five-inch long needles are soft to touch and stay on the tree longer than most other evergreens. Its supple branches make it difficult to hang heavy ornaments, and its long needles can conceal smaller ornaments.

Another native tree is the Virginia pine. In the wild, the tree epitomizes the "Charlie Brown" tree. What it lacks in form, it makes up in aroma. The Virginia pine has two yellow green needles per fascicle that are twisted and from 1.5 to three inches long. But grown and trained on a tree farm, this pine takes on a typical pyramid-shape. The stiff branches and short needles accommodate all types and sizes of ornaments.

Scotch pine is an introduced species and, according to the National Christmas Tree Association, "is probably the most commonly used species in the United States." For tree growers, the hardy tree demands little attention and ships well. As a Christmas tree, its stiff branches and short needles make it ideal for a range of lights and ornaments. It also resists drying and retains its needles well.

Balsam fir, Fraser Fir and Douglas fir have single needles, not clusters of needles, attached to the branches. All are aromatic (especially Balsam fir), have short needles and stiff branches for hanging ornaments, and retain needles well. The resin of Balsam fir was used for preparing microscope slides and for chewing gum. It grows in the northern latitudes from Pennsylvania to Canada. Fraser fir grows naturally in the southern Appalachians, and Douglas fir grows in the Rockies and in the western coast states.

Selecting a tree

You probably can't go wrong with any of the tree types since they all have been trained and trimmed on tree farms. Some people may prefer the soft look of pines, and others may desire the fullness of firs. It's just a matter of personal preference.

"If they ask for my advice," says Mitch Mc- Cachren, live nursery specialist for Lowe's, "I do two things - I look at the shape, and I also lay it down and look at the bottom of it to see how many limbs have to be removed to fit into your stand."

In the end, nostalgia may determine your tree. Adds McCachren, "What I've always stuck with are the ones I know from home.

"North Carolina is where the Fraser firs up in the mountains. So I've dealt with Fraser firs about all my life. And I'm always recommending more of these than anything else because they are more home to me."

Caring for your tree

"Cutting about an inch off the base is advised to promote water uptake. Some also suggest leaving it in a bucket of water outside overnight before bringing it indoors," notes Susan Edwards, agriculture and natural resource technician for Chesterfield County Cooperative Extension. "The biggest care item is to keep the tree watered well - don't let it dry out. A tree may soak up a lot of water in the first few days, so keep checking the stand to see if it needs to be refilled."

The use of small tree lights or "cold lights" will help to reduce water loss. Also refrain from using additives in the water. Many myths encourage the use of additives such as aspirin and sugar to keep the tree fresh. Water alone will keep the tree fresh.

What to do with your tree after the holidays

 

• Bring your tree to any Chesterfield landfill, so it can be turned into mulch. Local organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America, sometimes sponsor a tree recycling program.

• Place your tree in the backyard to provide small birds and mammals with refuge from the cold and predators. Your old tree becomes instant wildlife habitat.

• Temporarily use your tree as a bird feeder. Decorate your tree with suet, fruit and other bird feed.

Tree trivia

Q: What household item inspired the creation of the artificial Christmas tree? A: The toilet brush

 

Q: How many seedlings are planted for every tree cut down on a tree farm? A: Three

Q: What is the average age when a Christmas tree is harvested? A: Seven

Q: What year did the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree start? A: 1933

Q: Who was president when the first National Christmas Tree was dedicated? A: Woodrow Wilson