Ireland

Ireland

Friday, December 17, 2010

A Christmas History




A walk around my yard is our own personal Christmas history.
We used to buy "ball trees" for Christmas
so we could, after removing the lights and tinsel
plant them in our yard and enjoy them for years
as they continued to grow.

This one is our oldest
planted in 1990 before we even moved in.

Others turned out to be natural barriers
as they grew, between us and our neighbors.
We like our neighbors
but a barrier is nice.
1991



1992

Note:
If buying a 6 foot ball tree
keep in mind the "ball"
weighs about 100 pounds

1996


If you have back "issues"
buy a cut tree.
Take it from me.

2000

The plan of buying ball trees
and saving them
looks good on paper
but planting a tree in January
in the frozen tundra which is my yard
presents some difficulties
which has some times resulted
in a slow death

for the trees.

I've killed as many as I have saved over the years.
It was the thought that counts, right?

I'm heading out today to buy my Christmas tree.
I'll be cutting it.

10 comments:

nacherluver said...

I'm so glad you posted this! I have been wanting to do that for YEARS!!! Thing is, I always worried that if we bought it and took it from the outside where it's subzero here, brought it into our house which is 68 degrees and a month later brought it back out, wouldn't it shock the crap out of the tree? I don't know that it would have to be planted in January (impossible here) since the ball trees in the nursery are just mulched around, but I was worried that the temp. fluctuation would be too much shock. Thoughts? How did you to it?
Loving this post. Love what you have done. Beautiful trees. We're enjoying our cut tree as we do every year. ;)

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Yeah.. see... we used to do the live tree thing, then the cutting tree thing too.

This year? I bought a real-looking fake tree, 7 footer that comes in three pieces, at Home Depot, prelit. 5 minutes to assemble. No needles, no watering and hence no warped wooden floors and dog poisoning.

Life is Good :-)

Alison said...

I am really impressed by that! I confess to having a neat and tidy little fake tree. Good, but I do miss the Christmas Tree smell!

dcpeg said...

I guess "topping" one of your former Christmas trees wouldn't be cool. You'd be recycling but leaving an odd-looking shrub(?).

Just teasing. You did a very good thing and now you deserve an easier way of enjoying a Christmas tree. No good can come from putting out your back just before the holidays!!

Jerral Miles said...

Mark,
...nothing like trees and children that you've planted to keep us in awe of all things living. Your trees are wonderful... and the story is even better. I like the looks of all the trees, and I especially like it that each one has a history. Thanks.
Jerral

Sueann said...

Ball trees do weigh a ton!!! But all those trees in your yard looks wonderful!!
Hugs
SueAnn

Joey said...

Wow! I am totally impressed! I LOVE that you have your trees!! Digging in January? Not so much. Have a great Christmas, Mark!

Dagmar said...

Mind your back!!! And do send some pics out when it's all decorated indoors....Have fun opening all the presents and my you be surprised....
Wonderful times my friend.
Hugs Dagmar

Marilyn Miller said...

Yes. we use to try to buy balled trees too, but when they died we decided it wasn't worth it. Now off to the farm we go, walk around, say I want that one, the grower cuts it and loads it in our car, and we are on our way home. Much easier.

Merry Christmas to you!

Melinda Owens said...

How cool is that, to be able to look outside your window and see so many Christmas memories from years gone by. Merry Christmas to you and yours.