This year we cut fewer trees and brought in a few less from local sources and Oregon farms and the trees are leaving faster than usual. For decades, we’d sell just 15-20% of our fresh-cut trees before Dec 18 (or so) and then when the second-home owners and visitors arrived, we’d quickly sell through the remaining trees. The demographics and movement patterns and rental markets and buying habits have shifted. We are adapting, trying to navigate providing necessary services in a safe environment. It is fascinating, frustrating, and satisfying all at once; like gardening.

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We sold through our 80″ and 70″ wreathes early-on but we still have an ample supply of 60″ and 50″ sizes along with all the other smaller sizes. We prefer to bring in the giant wreaths when ordered by clients by late Oct. We have wreaths of manzanita and wreaths of juniper wreaths with sugarpine cones and wreaths without cones. There are swags and mixed or cedar garland by the roll or by the foot as well as various evergreen boughs by the bunch or by the pound.

Our Poinsettias were grown, one last time, by Eisley Nursery in Auburn. The 4 generation family business was recently (this fall) purchased my a large industry chain-store and Eisley’s 80+ years worth of growing structures are being torn down as I write this. Change is the only constant.

Locally harvested California red fir / Silvertip make up the bulk of our Christmas tree offerings from 3′-18′(we do cut or bring in larger trees but usually by special order only). The remainder of our trees are cultured Noble Fir (4′-9′) that are dense, fragrant, long-lasting and hold-up well in our freezer-like climate.

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Our living Christmas trees include several species of the genus Picea, spruce: colorado blue, ‘Black Hills’ white, Norway and some variations of these in a wide variety of sizes. We recommend keeping your living tree outside and then bringing it in for no more than ten days. While the tree is inside, it thaws, out and begins to “think” that it might be spring, if it “decides” that it’s spring (longer than 10 days) it is very difficult / impossible to prepare the plant for the rest of winter outside, it’s metabolic machinery gets going. While inside, water daily with ice cubes or snow. Be sure to have a saucer beneath the tree. After the 10 days indoors, move the tree to a sheltered location with temperatures at or a little below freezing for a week; a garage is most common. This lets the tree know that winter is coming, again. Water the tree thoroughly while reacclimatizing it for the cold. At that point, put the tree outdoors, in the shade (we try to avoid letting sun hit and warm the roots), where it can get covered with snow. Cover the rootball with snow or dig it into the snow if possible. Plant the tree as soon as possible in late winter, when the soils are workable but not wet. Spruce expand their root systems in late winter so getting the tree into the ground early gives the tree a larger root system and a great advantage next summer. We always offer some deal with our potted living Christmas trees. This year, we offer one 2cf bag of EB Stone PayDirt compost and a 2lb bag of Biosol fertilizer for 9.99 with every tree purchase, so you’ll have everything you’ll need to plant the tree early.

More later.

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