i lac CES ot NETTING f PTI RGR TST MITT SE MALE FOR THOSE of you who are unfamiliar with the term tan- nenbaum (as in ‘‘Oh Tannenbaum’’) it is German for Christmas tree (as in ‘‘Oh Christmas Tree’’). The origin of the tradition of the Christmas tree has its roots (oops!) in the Harz Mountains of Germany. There are three main categories of Christmas trees; the cut tree, the Jive tree and the fake (no ill-will intended). I hope the following will be of some help in the selection and care of the cut and live types; I will leave the discussion of the third to the petroleum industry. ing foul of the law and/»r the I.W.A., consider the tree farms of the Fraser Valley. It is a pleasant way to spend the day with the fam- ily; exploring the hinter lands of Surrey, Matsqui or Pitt Meadows. There you will find trees in various degrees of uniformity; from lean over the garden gate by Geoff Tobiasson If you are intending to cut your own tree there are some points you should consider before packing up the family and the chainsaw. First, it is illegal to remove trees from Crown Lands without a permit as it is from private property. Se- cond, it is highly unlikely that you would be able to find anything better than a Charlie Brown reject. Rather than run the risk of fall- to mean and all for a price only slightly higher (considering gas, wear-and-tear and aggravation) than you would expect to find at one of the tree lots on the North Shore. The varieties of cut trees available are: Douglas Fir, the most common, Scotch Pine, Grand Fir (sometimes mis-labeled Balsam Fir) and the Noble Fir. All of these except the Noble Fir come in either the ‘bush-cut’ natural shape or the ‘cultured’ sheared trees. The Douglas Fir is the least ex- ‘ensive and the fastest to dry out andoors. The Scotch Pine while holding its existing green needles longer, usually has the last several years of needle-drop conveniently nestled in the tangled interior of the tree, as well as this ready-made fire hazard, the trunks are usually too thick for the stand and too crooked to stand without the help of guy wires and sky-hooks, In my opinion, the true firs make the best cut Christmas trees. The Grand Fir has dark, green needles and closely tiered branches which make it very easy to deco- rate. Although all true firs have a magnificently aromatic resin, slightly reminscent of Mandarin oranges, the Grand Fir will release more of this perfume indoors through the holiday season. The Noodle Fir is truly a regal specimen. Not only does it have a stately bearing with blue-green needles and a stiff, multi-tiered branch structure, it commands a king’s ransom for a price. Like the Grand Fir, the Noble Fir is very slow to dry out indoors. Now that you and the family have arrived home in one piece you should consider how to keep this Christmas tree as the bright beacon of joy for the household rather than the fiery torch of disaster for We Want Your Pians! e New Homes « Additions * Renovations We provide building construction, construction management, and design services to individual and corporate clients. Our projects vary from redecoration and interior renovations in houses and commercial buildings to major additions and complete building projects. - Our management, design, and trades teams are extensively experienced in every construction phase, from excavation to finishing and landscaping. During the Holiday Season our offices are open as usual except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. CALL US DAY OR NIGHT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU 13 - Friday, December 12, 1986 - North Shore News the house. Sound a little harsh, well so is 2 Christmas fire. First, remember to buy a fresh tree. Trees that are dropping an inordinate number of needles at the tree lot are bound to be tinder dry before the season is over. If you get your tree early in order to have the best selection, keep it outside, exposed to the elements (not heavy frosts or freezing winds) in a vertical position until set-up time. A fresh Douglas Fir (not a true fir} should last two weeks indoors, while the Scotch Pine, Grand Fir and Noble Fir should last three or as many as four. Keep this in mind while you are deciding when to br- ing the tree indoors. Use a saw to cut approximately one inch diagonally off the bottom of the trunk. Use a stand which will hold sufficient water to keep the base of the trunk wet for at least 24 hours. Fill the reservoir daily. Commercial Christmas tree preservatives are available which can increase the life of the tree in- doors. Never, I repeat, never use candles or any other open flames on your tree. Use CSA approved light sets designed for use indoors. Replace old or worn sets and bulbs and do not overload outlets. Make sure you turn out the lights while you are out. Check the iree periodically by rubbing your hand over the nee- dles; if they feel dry to the touch or fall from the tree in excessive quantities its time to take the tree down. Live Christmas trees come in two forms; grown in the pot, or grown in the field then dug with the soil intact around the roots and either wrapped in burlap or placed in a pot (usually pulp/paper). Evergreens that have been poorly harvested from the field and are loose in the soil-ball around the roots will have little, if any chance of survival, The main types of live trees available are Spruce, Pine, and Douglas Fir. The survival rate and subsequent usefulness of Douglas Fir and Pines | find to be rather questionable. The Spruce family I find to be the best candidate for See Living Page 15 Vs Te Nou Loep \ 5 Exquisite Floral Arrangements NY 4 “ zs 904 W. 16th St. North Van. 980-1142