Allure of a Real Holiday Tree
By Steffen Klenk
Nature Columnist
The holiday season has returned, and as the countdown to Christmas moves forward, it signals the time to decorate the home. This means time spent putting up the lights outside, selecting the best wreath to hang on the door, and placing garland around the door and hearth. But the biggest task will be going to a local store or tree farm and finding the perfect Christmas tree. Despite the popularity of artificial trees, there are many who enjoy the thrill of buying a real Christmas tree from year to year.
While the earliest origins of the Christmas tree can be traced back to Europe, they did not reach popularity in the United States until the mid-19th century. The tradition began sometime during the mid-1850s, after a drawing of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria standing next to their Christmas tree in Windsor Castle was published in a Philadelphia magazine. Early Christmas ornaments, particularly in Europe, consisted of food delicacies, bells, and angels to wish the spirits luck. The advent of electricity soon afterward brought a new wave of modern-day tree decoration. In 1882, Edward Johnson, Thomas Edison’s colleague, strung a strand of 80 across his Christmas tree. Today, we tend to decorate our trees with ornaments that have significant meaning in our lives.
There are a variety of pine trees native to New Jersey; the most popular one being the White Pine. As one of the most ideal tree for decoration, white pines have dense limbs, soft green needles (great for needle retention) and they have a slight fragrance.
Other popular Christmas trees in the region include the Douglas fir. Considered one of the most popular trees in the country, its shiny needles are soft to the touch, but cannot hold fragile or heavy ornaments. Frasier firs are the most attractive and will look good in any home. These types of trees are appropriate for ornaments of all shapes and sizes with its sturdy branches and silvery-green undersides. With its flexible branches and dark green needles, The Balsam fir tree presents itself with a nice Christmas tree fragrance. Scotch pine trees supply a healthy, bold green color and have great needle retention.
The Blue Spruce also retains its popularity. Its striking color and symmetry are perfect for decorating, but remain cautious around the sharp needles. The Concolor fir presents itself with an attractive foliage color, strong, bluish-green needles and a strong citrus scent.
Picking out your tree and bringing it home for decoration is usually surrounded by some type of tradition; whether you are sharing stories or family history, going through the neighborhood caroling or discovering the meaning of Christmas. Whatever it is that you and your family enjoy, may the day be a memorable and special one.
There are many locations in South Jersey where you can find the perfect Christmas tree.
Here is a list of local tree farms in Atlantic and Cape May Counties:
Dupras’ Evergreen Acres
403 Old River Rd. Mays Landing
609-625-2307
Open Fridays-Sundays Now until Dec. 17th
Eisele Christmas Tree Farm
280 Old Tuckahoe Rd. Petersburg
609-628-2758
Open Fridays 1-4pm & Saturdays & Sundays 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. until Dec. 23rd
Homestead Nursery at Galloway
235 S. Cologne Ave. Galloway
609-965-4772
Littleworth Tree Farm
1957 Tuckahoe Rd. Petersburg
609-628-3346
Open Fridays-Sundays 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Ponderosa Tree Farm
131 S. Mannheim Ave. Galloway
609-965-4646
Open 10am-4pm Daily until Christmas Eve
R and J Farm
723 W. Herschel St. Galloway
609-593-6180
Open Monday-Thursday 12-5 p.m. Friday-Sundays 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
