The Latest News at
Valley Star Farm!
GRAND OPENING FOR
CHRISTMAS TREES
and HOLIDAY DECORATIONS
Friday, November 27,2009
- December 22, 2009
Hours:
Monday - Friday:
12 noon till dark
Saturday & Sunday:
10 A.M. till dark
Christmas Tree
Facts
- Christmas trees have been sold
commercially in the United states since about 1850. Until fairly
recently, all Christmas trees came from the forest.
- Thirty-four to thirty-six
million Christmas trees are produced each year and 95 percent are
shipped or sold directly from Christmas tree farms.
- California, Oregon, Michigan,
Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina are the top
Christmas tree producing states. Oregon is the leading producer of
Christmas trees - 8.6 million in 1998.
- The best selling trees are
Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine,
Balsam fir and white pine.
- More than 2,000 trees are
usually planted per acre. On an average 1,000-1,500 of these trees
will survive. In the North, maybe, 750 trees will remain. Almost
all trees require shearing to attain the Christmas tree shape. At
six to seven feet, trees are ready for harvest. It takes six to
ten years of fighting heavy rain, wind, hail and drought to get a
mature tree.
- Selling directly to the consumer
has become a major market for many Christmas tree farms. Some tree
farms offer the consumer the chance to select his own tree while
it is still growing in the tree farm.
- In the United States, there are
more than 21,000 Christmas tree growers.
- In the United States, there are
more than 12,000 cut-your-own farms.
- In 1979, the National Christmas
Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament? This was done in
honor of the American hostages in Iran.
- Between 1887-1933 a fishing
schooner called the
"Christmas Ship" would tie up at the Clark Street bridge and
sell spruce trees from Michigan to Chicagoans.
- Since 1966, the National
Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the
President and first family.
- The first decorated Christmas
was in Riga, Latvia in 1510.
- Growing Christmas trees provides
a habitat for wildlife.
- Recycled trees have been used to
make sand and soil erosion barriers and been placed in ponds for
fish shelter.
- The first Christmas tree retail
lot in the United States was started in 1851 in New York by Mark
Carr.
- Christmas trees take an average
of 7-10 years to mature.
- Christmas trees remove dust and
pollen from the air.
- Since 1971, the Province of Nova
Scotia has presented the
Boston Christmas Tree tree to the people of Boston in
gratitude for the relief supplies received from the citizens of
Boston after a ship exploded in 1917 following a collision in the
Halifax, Nova Scotia Harbor. Part of the city was leveled killing
and injuring thousands.
- The use of evergreen trees to
celebrate the winter season occurred before the birth of Christ.
- Christmas trees are grown in all
50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.
Choosing A
Christmas Tree Variety
Each year there seems to be more
varieties to choose from for that perfect Christmas tree. The
varieties vary in characteristics, availability and price.
Fraser firs have been referred to
as the "Cadillac of Christmas trees." The needles are flat, 1/2 to 1
inches, and have a rich, dark green color with a silvery underside.
It has excellent color and needle retention characteristics. They
tend to be "naturally-shaped" Christmas trees. Although becoming
somewhat more prevalent, due to their limited production in this
area and their high quality, they may be harder to find and higher
priced than other varieties.
For a "full" appearing tree, white
pines are often good. They are widely available in the Midwest. It
has longer needles at 3 to 6 inches. It has generally good needle
color and retention.
The spruces are gaining in
popularity, too. The needles tend to have good retention, and are
shorter and stiffer than some of the other varieties. The spruce
varieties often are popular when buying a live Christmas tree for
planting in the yard after the holiday. Remember, live trees do need
some special care for successful planting after the holidays.
The traditional favorite Scotch
pine has 1 1/2 to 3 inch blue-green needles, which have a somewhat
twisted appearance. The branches tend to be more open and stiffer
than the white pine. Many people prefer it since it often is easier
to hang ornaments on its branches. It is also often one of the most
widely available and reasonably priced varieties.
Other varieties are also available
at tree lots or from fresh-cut tree farms.
Regardless of the variety of the
tree, be sure to properly water the tree and keep it in as moist and
cool of a location in the house as possible. Avoid putting it near
heat outlets. Be sure to check the water level at least daily. The
water should never drop below the bottom of the trunk of the tree.
These will help lengthen the tree's enjoyment and safety.
With all these choices, everyone
should be able to find that "perfect tree." Buyers may want to take
a day for a holiday outing to discover the different types of trees
available and to make some consumer comparisons. It can be a fun
outing, as well as good consumer shopping, to go out and compare the
varieties and the costs at various farms and sales lots.
Editor’s Note: For more information
on Christmas Trees and More visit:
www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees
We know you will
enjoy your visit to our farm! |
