It rests in the woods, a haven for wildlife. I am happy for them, but sadness still fills my being.
Christmas is officially over. The glorious Gambit tree was taken out today.
- Thread starter fairgambit
- Start date
If you ever saw how fast a dry evergreen goes up in flames, you’d get it out of the house way earlier. They practically explode.
Bought a fake one a few years ago after lighting a real one up just for kicks in the driveway. Holy hell
Bought a fake one a few years ago after lighting a real one up just for kicks in the driveway. Holy hell
I would agree, but it was not dry. It was still drinking water and had developed new growth on a number of branches. Needle loss was minimal. We cut it fresh a week before Christmas and it was well watered.
Ah, yes. It would make sense that it lasted until around right now in that case. Obviously, fresh cut trees are the best, but I’ve got to go to a lot where the trees are easily already 3-4 days old and treated roughly. Plus, we always put it up right after tgiving
friends of mine outside Atlanta every year have a Christmas tree burning party right around now. They live on 20 acre farmette and everyone goes around after Christmas in Atl picking up trees off the curb. Lot of these folks are self employed in construction and so have big pick ups and dump trucks, and ultimately collect several hundred trees. These trees lie in field for month drying out then last weekend in January build a big bonfire in field and every one stands around drinking beer and taking turns tossing these dried out trees on the fire. And wow they go up in huge towers of flames and cracks and pops and showers of embers. It is really fun and impressive to see a big 12-14 foot tree go up in 30 feet of roaring flames.......
Any tree cut can be saved from drying out, even if it has sat a week or so. Before you put it in the stand, be sure to cut off the bottom 1-2” or so. That way you get rid of the edge that has sealed itself shut. Then immediately get it upright and put water in it. Don’t let the water dry out, ever. Once the water gets below the cut line, the tree will again start to seal itself off and won’t take on water anymore. Otherwise, it’ll drink water like crazy to stay “fresh” like.
Your caution was a good one. When I first got married we bought our trees at the local VFD and put them up the 1st week of December. They barely got through new year. Now we cut them ourselves at a local tree farm and put them up a week or less before Christmas. We rarely take them down before Feb.1st. Of course, our neighbors probably think we're nuts....Husband: "Honey, its Feb 9th and those crazy Gambits are just taking down their Christmas tree."
Wife: "Really? So soon?"
Took ours down New Year’s Day. Put it next to the bird feeders outside family room windows. Still nice and green and no needle loss. Birds like the shelter!
Crazy as last year my guess is 25% of the needles were on the tree skirt by Christmas (cut Saturday following Thanksgiving).
Thanks for sharing your story @fairgambit
OL
Crazy as last year my guess is 25% of the needles were on the tree skirt by Christmas (cut Saturday following Thanksgiving).
Thanks for sharing your story @fairgambit
OL
Your caution was a good one. When I first got married we bought our trees at the local VFD and put them up the 1st week of December. They barely got through new year. Now we cut them ourselves at a local tree farm and put them up a week or less before Christmas. We rarely take them down before Feb.1st. Of course, our neighbors probably think we're nuts....Husband: "Honey, its Feb 9th and those crazy Gambits are just taking down their Christmas tree."
Wife: "Really? So soon?"
Crazy? No!
Slightly deranged, well,...maybe!
Merry Christmas GLOV!Crazy? No!
Slightly deranged, well,...maybe!
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I collect trees. Take them out on the ice and tie a concrete block to them. When the ice thaws they sink. I GPS the spot so I know where to ice fish next year. Great fish habitat .
Your caution was a good one. When I first got married we bought our trees at the local VFD and put them up the 1st week of December. They barely got through new year. Now we cut them ourselves at a local tree farm and put them up a week or less before Christmas. We rarely take them down before Feb.1st. Of course, our neighbors probably think we're nuts....Husband: "Honey, its Feb 9th and those crazy Gambits are just taking down their Christmas tree."
Wife: "Really? So soon?"
Well I’m certain the Griswold’s approve.
Merry Christmas GLOVE!
Who is this GLOVE you speak of sir?
I am TheGLOV,.....no "E" on the end sir.
Perhaps you and the wife have drank (again) too much spiked eggnog??
I am old "TheGLOV". I make mistakes. Lots of em'.Who is this GLOVE you speak of sir?
I am TheGLOV,.....no "E" on the end sir.
Perhaps you and the wife have drank (again) too much spiked eggnog??
I assume you don't have a boat with GPS?
Do you cut your trees from the same lot every year or do you make it a ritual to go shopping at various tree farms until you find the perfect one?It rests in the woods, a haven for wildlife. I am happy for them, but sadness still fills my being.
Never mind....I see that you posted above “a tree farm”.
I am old "TheGLOV". I make mistakes. Lots of em'.
Forgiven!
OJ wore GLOV"E"S
I do not! -TheGLOV
Thanks for asking because I can plug my favorite tree farm.
For the past 10 years we have gone exclusively to Buchanan Tree Farm in Beaver County, PA. We believe their trees are superior in every way. The owner is a retired airline pilot and his attention to detail sets his farm apart. Friends who have seen our trees have gone there and rave about the quality of the trees.
I have a tree burning reminiscence that I just must share. December of 1963 and I was an 8th grader at our Catholic parish school (will remain unnamed to protect the innocent), A fellow classmate's father was the parish custodian and he was to collect all the live trees from the church, the school, the rectory and the convent and burn them. The EPA wasn't a glint in it's daddy's eye back ion those wonderful days.
Naturally, Mr. ???? enlisted his son and a few others to tote the dried timber and needles to the intended spot of the blaze. When it went up, it resembled Mount Vesuvius for a minute or two - several of us thought it was so neat that we went out into the surrounding neighborhood and procured neighborhood trees left out for pickup by the local town, bringing them back to add to the joy.
This was done during the school recess time and the younguns, seeing us toting more trees back screamed with delight - reminded me of a South Park episode. Eventually, Mr. ??? and Sister Annette put a stop to our sojourns and the blaze died out rather quickly.
For all that I know, those ashes were used on Ash Wednesday (just kidding - we all know that they burn the leftover palm from last year's Palm Sunday for that ritual).
Naturally, Mr. ???? enlisted his son and a few others to tote the dried timber and needles to the intended spot of the blaze. When it went up, it resembled Mount Vesuvius for a minute or two - several of us thought it was so neat that we went out into the surrounding neighborhood and procured neighborhood trees left out for pickup by the local town, bringing them back to add to the joy.
This was done during the school recess time and the younguns, seeing us toting more trees back screamed with delight - reminded me of a South Park episode. Eventually, Mr. ??? and Sister Annette put a stop to our sojourns and the blaze died out rather quickly.
For all that I know, those ashes were used on Ash Wednesday (just kidding - we all know that they burn the leftover palm from last year's Palm Sunday for that ritual).
My wife would always want to leave our tree up until after "Russian Christmas." This was 11 years since I put up a tree. When in high school a lot of my football teammates and I worked for the Abraczinskas Family (Catawissa Pa.)and trimmed "Christmas" trees in the summer. You had to start early in the AM because by noon it get humid and unbearable in those rows. At sun up, be careful brushing against the trees....they warned us that snakes liked to lay in the sun side....never did see one.
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