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Do You Really Want A Pink Christmas Tree?

Gary Pinnell/Highlands Today

After one inch is cut from the trunk, put the tree in water within an hour. Otherwise, resins will form and the tree won't be able to drink.

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: December 5, 2008

SEBRING - Linda Northcutt has a fake Christmas tree.

"It's on the porch," she said Thursday. "There's no fragrance. It don't look like a Christmas tree, and it don't smell like a Christmas tree. I couldn't get in the spirit."

Essortment.com suggests combining yellow, gold, silver and copper metallic tones for a shimmering tree. Or mix pink, baby blue and pale yellow.

Northcutt decided to opt for a more natural look this year. So there she was, at Severt's Christmas Trees, across U.S. 27 from Office Depot. She picked a Douglas fir, which is really not a fir, it's from the pseudotsuga family. But Northcutt didn't care about that.

"I like the way it feels," Northcutt said. "It's a pretty color."

The leaves are green, with a blue undertone. And Christina McKenzie, who manages the lot with her husband, Garrett, likes Douglas fir needles best because they're not sharp and prickly.

"They're better trees for children," she said. The 1-inch needles have a sweet smell when they're crushed.

The Florida economy is bad this year, but don't tell the McKenzies that. "All these spots are bare," Garrett said, pointing to stands where there are no trees, "because we got slammed last night."

They sold 43 during the 12-hour day. During a relatively light hour before lunch on Thursday, four trees were sold. "We'll probably sell 70 on Saturday," he said.

Safe Choices

The fastest way to ruin Christmas is to set the house on fire.

Here is advice from the experts:

•Select the Christmas tree's spot before you buy. Measure the height and width available, to avoid modifying a too-tall, too-wide tree. Choose a tree that's at least two feet shorter than the ceiling height, and two feet smaller than the width.

Avoid spots close to heat sources, like fireplaces, heaters, even TVs and air ducts. Never put candles close to trees.

Don't be shy, ask how fresh your tree is. The McKenzies say their trees are recently cut. One way to tell: pull your closed hand along a branch. A few needles should come off, not a handful.

Cut one inch off the trunk of the tree, and put it in water immediately. "The tree will form a protective coating in an hour," says Christina McKenzie.

Garrett McKenzie puts trees on a mechanical shaker. That rids the tree of dead needles, insects and eggs. "But we also look them over pretty closely," says Christina McKenzie.

Look for a straight trunk. A lopsided tree could fall over when decorated.

Fresh, well-watered Christmas trees aren't a fire hazard. If you don't have one, buy a stand with a water bucket, and water the tree every week.

Ever since the first Christmas tree retail lot was set up on the streets of New York City in 1851, Americans have been enjoying the tradition of a live tree to celebrate the holiday season.

Today, over 32 million Christmas trees are sold each year.

WE WANT TO KNOW

Are you decking the halls for Christmas? Senior reporter Gary Pinnell wants to visit a family while they're decorating their tree. To contribute to the story, call 386-5828,or e-mail gpinnell@highlandstoday.com

Gary Pinnell can be reached at 863-386-5828 or gpinnell@highlandstoday.com.

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