This weekend, I went with a friend to Hillwood, the museum/estate of the Heiress Marjorie Post. There were 4 trees in the mansion. They were all artificial, of course, and beautifully decorated, but the height of opulence was the tree in the doorway from the entrance foyer to the grand drawing room. It was decorated with sprays of white Phalaenopsis orchids laid on the top of each branch to best take advantage of their arching form. I pointed out to my friend where the sprays went into the orchid tubes near the "trunk." There were plants in the greenhouse with sprays waiting to be harvested over the next two weeks.
Real vs Artificial Christmas trees
- Thread starter lordkenmore
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My folks always had natural Christmas trees until Christmas, 1968 when the first artificial one arrived. That one lasted until 1978 when another artificial tree arrived. An all white one. It was beautiful, but after a few years, those red hot C-7 bulbs were beginning to leave scorch marks. So it was replaced in 1982 with one of those "Scotch Pine" trees. The ones that have those bottle brush bristles. I immediately hated it. It was really hard, if not impossible the hang ornaments right. So in 1985, we went back to natural trees. The look, aroma and the joy of going out to buy one and tying it to the roof of the wagon, well that was Christmas. And I was on a mission to find the right tree. I was the only one at Home Depot with a box cutter and gloves.
But now the downside of a real Christmas tree. Sometimes, no matter what you did, they did not last. I hated I could not put a tree up before say, December 14 and have it last until January 6 (Feast of the Epiphany). And a few times the tree was all put dried up before new years eve. Another annoyance were the branches being too weak to support ornaments and light strings. Then the horror of taking it down. All the scratches and cuts on my hands and arms from taking down the lights. Then wrapping it in plastic, and hauling it down to the designated disposal site. Not to mention the MESS of needles that it left behind.
Three years ago, I switched back to artificial, yes it can't compare to a real tree in terms of beauty and aroma, but no more messes, no more injuries and no more nervously wondering if the tree will last.
When they develop a GMO tree that stays fresh for months and has strong branches, then I might be swayed back into a natural Christmas tree.
Ultra, I can top that. Dear ole dad always had to have a real Scotch Pine. It would take forever to find one. When it went up there was no place for decorations. I was scared for life.
vacerator
Well-known member
which ever tree
is preferred, when you decorate with Love, they all look nice.
is preferred, when you decorate with Love, they all look nice.
I like 'em both! We use an artificial tree (or 2) here due to wife's allergies.
I agree.They all look nice once decorated!
Johnrk, see your PM.
Now, let's all post some pics of this years trees.
I agree.They all look nice once decorated!
Johnrk, see your PM.
Now, let's all post some pics of this years trees.
Some apartment buildingd
do not allow real trees for fear of fire.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
do not allow real trees for fear of fire.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
lordkenmore
Well-known member
do not allow real trees for fear of fire.
I also seem to recall hearing of places that would allow trees, but required some sort of fire resistance treatment. I think I recall hearing that my old college had such a requirement, at least for trees in public spaces, but also maybe dorm rooms.
I also seem to recall hearing of places that would allow trees, but required some sort of fire resistance treatment. I think I recall hearing that my old college had such a requirement, at least for trees in public spaces, but also maybe dorm rooms.
We always had real trees until the Christmas of '74. The earlier ones were Balsam or Fraser Fir, and later we started getting Scotch Pines. For a few years we had 2 trees. One in the living room, and one in the basement playroom.
In the weeks before Christmas of '73, a store called "Shopper's Treetown" was advertising in the paper and on TV. A day or two after Christmas, my mom and I went there, as all trees and decorations were reduced by 50%. We found a beautiful 6' tall tree, full, with soft needles as opposed to the "bottle brush" type. We bought it, and used it from '74 until my mom's last Christmas ('94) I still have it packed up in a large tote bin, and it's at storage. Hope to get it out next year.
The funniest thing I ever experienced concerning a Christmas tree was in the late 60's. Our church group was in charge of decorating the tree in the sanctuary - one that was about 12' tall, and a real tree. It was placed in a corner to the right of the altar, so we only had to decorate 3 sides of it. We put on several strings of lights (NOMA with red beads to attach them), and lots of beautiful glass ornaments (Shiny Brite, and Polish). The tree looked grand when we finished! We went to the kitchen and had cookies and hot chocolate, and then left. I got a call from my friend Patty on Wed. night, asking if I could come up to the church. I walked over, and she and several others were in the sanctuary (they'd just arrived for choir practice). I went in, and saw the tree laying on the floor, the pulpit overturned, and ornaments - many broken but some intact - scattered about the carpet. We removed the remaining ornaments from the tree, replaced a few broken light bulbs, and then swept. The next day the janitor and pastor bought a new, larger stand for it, and also fastened a wire from near the tree top to the wall. Our group returned Sat. with some new ornaments, and decorated the tree again. From that time on, they made sure it was securely attached. Good thing it didn't fall over during church, or it may have knocked the preacher down!
In the weeks before Christmas of '73, a store called "Shopper's Treetown" was advertising in the paper and on TV. A day or two after Christmas, my mom and I went there, as all trees and decorations were reduced by 50%. We found a beautiful 6' tall tree, full, with soft needles as opposed to the "bottle brush" type. We bought it, and used it from '74 until my mom's last Christmas ('94) I still have it packed up in a large tote bin, and it's at storage. Hope to get it out next year.
The funniest thing I ever experienced concerning a Christmas tree was in the late 60's. Our church group was in charge of decorating the tree in the sanctuary - one that was about 12' tall, and a real tree. It was placed in a corner to the right of the altar, so we only had to decorate 3 sides of it. We put on several strings of lights (NOMA with red beads to attach them), and lots of beautiful glass ornaments (Shiny Brite, and Polish). The tree looked grand when we finished! We went to the kitchen and had cookies and hot chocolate, and then left. I got a call from my friend Patty on Wed. night, asking if I could come up to the church. I walked over, and she and several others were in the sanctuary (they'd just arrived for choir practice). I went in, and saw the tree laying on the floor, the pulpit overturned, and ornaments - many broken but some intact - scattered about the carpet. We removed the remaining ornaments from the tree, replaced a few broken light bulbs, and then swept. The next day the janitor and pastor bought a new, larger stand for it, and also fastened a wire from near the tree top to the wall. Our group returned Sat. with some new ornaments, and decorated the tree again. From that time on, they made sure it was securely attached. Good thing it didn't fall over during church, or it may have knocked the preacher down!
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