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Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree by Rindy O’Brien
home gardenand
OH CHRISTMAS TREE, OH CHRISTMAS TREE
article and photos by Rindy O’Brien
Tis the season to celebrate. Front and center of all the holiday traditions is the Christmas Tree. What kind of tree to select is often an annual debate in families. What is the best eco-friendly choice to? Is it buying a green tree or investing in an arti cial tree that will last for years. Are real trees better than arti cial ones?
Getting an expert’s opinion on this question involved a trip to Anne Arundel County Maryland, approximately 45 minutes from Capitol Hill to visit with a Christmas tree farm. Gary Palmer, owner of Holiday Memories Farm, has given this question a lot of thought. Surprisingly, he says “it is what is right for you and your family. There are a lot of considerations to be made and circumstances and for some to buy an arti cial tree is perfectly ne.”
The fact that arti cial trees end up in the land ll and are not biodegradable is a leading argument against the “fake” trees. Many are also produced in China in-
Gary Palmer, owner of Holiday Memories Farm (4848 Muddy Creek Road, West River, MD), proudly shows one of the trees available to choose and cut at his Christmas tree farm. Trees take about seven years to grow.
creasing the carbon emissions and resources. However, nancially it makes a lot of sense to invest in one, saving you having to spend $30 to $150 a year for a tree that lasts a few weeks. Maintenance wise you don’t have to worry about watering the tree in the middle of the very rushed holiday season. USA Today reports Americans purchase approximately 10 million arti cial trees a season.
Christmas Tree Farms
Of course, the ultimate environmentally friendly option is to buy or rent a live tree that can be repotted and continues to grow year after year. This option is gaining in popularity, but it was
difficult to actually find a rent-a-tree company in the DMV area. Advocates suggest contacting local tree farmers to see if they are able to provide this option.
Christmas tree farms are plentiful in the DC area and the best of the best have been detailed by trees.com. https://www.trees.com/christmas-trees/farms-in-washington-dc
Holiday Memories Farm is in its second season this year. Gary Palmer, a retired DC firefighter, says it has
Buck York and Anna Kate York students at Brent School get into the holiday spirit showing some of the trees that are for sale. Proceeds from the sale help with student projects. Photo credit: Brent School PTA.
been his lifelong dream to be a Christmas tree farmer, ever since he spent time on his grandparent’s farm growing up. “Unlike most kids, I really loved being on the farm,” says Gary. It took him several years to find and negotiate to buy the farm, but his patience paid off.
It takes seven years for a tree to grow big enough to cut, and he has several different plots of trees all in different stages. The inventory for 2022 is good, and he offers several types of evergreen trees, including Douglas Fir and Blue Spruces. You get to pick and cut your favorite. Gary also brings in trees from other suppliers if you want to just choose one ready to go.
Holiday Memories farm is a complete Christmas experience with a Gingerbread House recently built for Santa, and a barn full of holiday trees, wreathes, and holiday goodies. They even have a 100-year-old sleigh you can pose on with family members for the perfect holiday photograph. Gary wants folks to make Christmas memories at his farm, making his lifelong dream come true.
The farm is only open two weekends including one on December 3rd weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other times of the year the farm sells pick your own blueberries, fresh eggs, and herbs in season. Check the website for details.https://kelciepalmer.wixsite.com/holidaymemoriesfarm
Trees on the Hill for Good Causes
In addition to trees being available at Eastern
Market, Gingko Gardens, and Fragers, local schools, scout troops, and the Friends of the
National Arboretum also sell Christmas trees and wreaths. Despite a national shortage of trees, Capitol Hill will be well stocked with trees to choose from.
Boy Scout Troop 500 will be selling trees December 1st through Sunday, December 4th at the Lutheran Church of Reformation, 212 East Capitol Street, NE. Boy Scout member, William Dierlam, is an eighth grader and this will be his second year participating in the tree sale. “I really like giving back to the community and see-
Artificial trees can be found at many retailers including a wide variety at Costco and Lowes at 2438 Market Street, N.E. Most trees are pre-lit.
ing how happy people are in picking out the perfect tree for themselves,” says William. Del Voss, one of the Boy Scout leaders, says they will have 240 trees to choose from and two types of trees, Balsam Firs or Fraser Firs. William says that the proceeds help fund scout programs like buying tents for camp outs, food, and other activities. The scouts will be selling the trees rain or shine, and they recommend coming early to buy your tree. They will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm or on Sunday until all are sold.
Miner Elementary, Eliot-Hine Middle School
and Payne Elementary School have joined forces to host their 7th annual greenery sale of Friday, December 2nd and Saturday, December 3rd at Miner Elementary, 601 15th Street NE. Abby McGill, a parent to a first grade Miner Bear, says that they will have some of the most affordable trees in the area. “Our stocks go quickly.” In addition to Christmas trees, they will be selling poinsettias, and greeting cards. Abby acknowledges the tree shortage and says it is real. “We will have $40 trees at our sale and are determined to
keep trees at that a ordable level as part of the Miner Elementary PTO commitment to equality.” They will have about 200 trees of di erent sizes and varieties.
Brent Elementary School
will host its 12th annual Holiday Sale from Thursday December 1st until Sunday, December 4th. Brent is located at 301 North Carolina Ave. SE. In addition to trees, they will have wreaths, garland, poinsettias, winterberry, and Hanukah items. Buyers can choose what Shelby Hunt, a school parent, says is a popular option to have the trees delivered on the day of purchase and the option for in-home setup. The “Holiday Sale” is a highlight of the season for Brent parents who volunteer to sta all aspects of the sale. Proceeds from the sale of trees are used to provide critical resources to students. The weekend sale is open 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m.
Friends of the National Ar-
boretum will also be selling trees on December 3rd and December 10th. Check their website for more details - https://www.fona.org/
There is nothing like creating new traditions with family and friends during the holiday season. Holidays give us all a chance to share special moments together. Whether you are cutting your own tree; picking a tree from one of the local schools and nonpro ts, or putting up the arti cial tree with lights aglow, memories will be made and last a lifetime of Christmases.
A correction from last month’s article on native plants. To contact the DC native plant folks go to https:// dcnatives.org/pollinator-gardenplanner/
Rindy O’Brien is a local gardener and can be contacted at rindyobrien@ gmail.com ◆
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