Tips on finding the perfect Christmas tree
Willy Allen, a worker at The HotHouse Floral, stands with one of his trees at the North Strabane florist Friday.
New varieties of poinsettia are on display at The HotHouse Floral in North Strabane. At front, left is a new variety this year called Picasso. At center is a second new variety called Orange Spice. The light pink flowers are called Visions of Grandeur and were designed for breast cancer awareness.
The scent of evergreen is intrinsically tied for many to the magic of waiting for Santa and his eight tiny reindeer to land on the roof.
Finding the perfect tree to top the perfect gifts can be a challenge since some qualities that make the tree high quality are not visibly apparent.
“You want a tree that’s going to last,” said Rene Hudock, owner of The HotHouse Floral in North Strabane Township. “Ask when they were cut.”
She said many trees come from western states, like Oregon and Washington. These were often cut as early as October. HotHouse trees come from West Virginia and were cut just before Thanksgiving, she said.
She recommended Frasier firs.
In addition to freshness, pick a tree that is shaped well and fits the needs of the area intended to house the tree. In terms of shape, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
“Some people want a skinny one, some people want a fat one, some people want a tall one,” she said. “It depends on the space they have.”
Branches should be examined for their strength. If the branches are frail, heavy ornaments could come crashing down.
For other holiday decorating ideas, Hudock said two new types of poinsettias are available this year. Orange spice poinsettias have flaming orange leaves. Picasso poinsettias are a mix of pink and white. She said the new colors were developed through cross-breeding.
Another recently bred poinsettia was named Visions of Grandeur. It is a pink flower designed for breast cancer awareness.