--My parents and I always favored white pines, with their long, fine needles.--
That's what my family had for years and years. But, the last few we bought had been cut so early they became droopy before Christmas, and it was hard to hang ornaments on them. So, when we saw the much stiffer scotch pine on the lot one year, we tried it. It stayed bright green and stiff for the entire season. Unfortunately, it was also cut early and, while it didn't droop, it became brittle. To get it out of the house, my brother and I had to handle it with gloves so it wouldn't cut our hands to pieces. And, as we started out the door with it, there was a horrible cracking, snapping sound... Because it was a very round tree that had bent nicely coming in. But, going out? Going out it became the exploding Christmas tree. You couldn't see the floor for the pine needles. We found bits of that tree crammed into the baseboards, hiding in the carpet, and clinging to the drapes for months afterward.
That's when we started ordering trees from farms in Michigan where they cut the trees to order and ship them. Some of the last few were trimmed rather sloppily, but they were definitely fresh.
And, thanks for the well wishes! I hope your efforts go well too.
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carisma_sensei
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Date: 2014-12-02 03:35 am (UTC)That's what my family had for years and years. But, the last few we bought had been cut so early they became droopy before Christmas, and it was hard to hang ornaments on them. So, when we saw the much stiffer scotch pine on the lot one year, we tried it. It stayed bright green and stiff for the entire season. Unfortunately, it was also cut early and, while it didn't droop, it became brittle. To get it out of the house, my brother and I had to handle it with gloves so it wouldn't cut our hands to pieces. And, as we started out the door with it, there was a horrible cracking, snapping sound... Because it was a very round tree that had bent nicely coming in. But, going out? Going out it became the exploding Christmas tree. You couldn't see the floor for the pine needles. We found bits of that tree crammed into the baseboards, hiding in the carpet, and clinging to the drapes for months afterward.
That's when we started ordering trees from farms in Michigan where they cut the trees to order and ship them. Some of the last few were trimmed rather sloppily, but they were definitely fresh.
And, thanks for the well wishes! I hope your efforts go well too.