“Life doesn’t have to be ordinary” has long been my life mantra – and that has come to include our family Christmas tree!
Years ago (c. 1970’s), my father-in-law (a not so ordinary kind of guy that we loved to the moon and back) always purchased “live“ trees for the Christmas holiday. The day after Christmas the tree would be planted along the edge of his pond, all of which are still there today.
The holiday came when my husband and I decided we wanted to keep the tradition his dad started alive and the tree too!
First we bought only traditional looking Christmas trees: noble fir, Fat Albert spruce, and once a white pine.
But my son and son-in-law made me promise to not do white pine again because it turned out to be a “grinch” to plant! Let’s just say we all needed a cup of eggnog after that incident.
Our home has several trees that we have planted from Christmases past. The last three years we went out on a limb and chose a Blue Atlas Cedar. If you’re not familiar with this variety – trust me – it’s definitely not your ordinary Christmas tree!
A little like “Whoville” of Dr. Seuss fame, the Blue Atlas when dressed in holiday finery brings a delightful smile to all. Its slender and winsome nature brings some challenges in decorating, but if you’re an adventurous soul, you’re up for the challenge!
Bringing in the tree can be daunting, so enlist helpers!
A few tips I’ve learned along the way:
- Plan to have the live tree inside your home no longer than three weeks. (make Dec. 26th your planting date-don’t forget to water the tree well when planting)
- Dig the planting hole before Christmas!
- Live trees come in a large buckets or root ball. Place a waterproof pad under to protect your flooring.
- Water smaller amounts every 3-4 days the entire time it is in your house.
- There is always a risk that the tree will go into shock once planted. Don’t assume it’s a goner. I’ve had more than one lose every single needle, only to have them all reappear come Spring.
The trees are now starting to become like members in the family. You know what I mean, some short, some tall, some a littler fuller than others. Some a little prickly, some soft and flexible. But we love each of them for all their unique qualities!
Last year’s tree had so much personality in his shape we named him “the giving tree” because of his long willowy arms that seemed to want to reach out and give us a welcoming hug!
I still see that in him when I see him in his special place in our yard.
Whether it be inspiration from my father in law, Dr. Seuss, or the love for family, I encourage you to step out of the ordinary, do something different, embrace going green, create new family traditions, and start planting beautiful memories along the way!
From my table to yours,
helen
Helen Lampkin, woman of faith, devoted wife, mother and grandmother, lives an inspired “no ordinary” life based on the words found in Colossians 3:23 – “do all things wholeheartedly to the Lord.” This inspiration is at the heart of all she does and has led her to become an entrepreneur, artist, adventurous cook, recipe developer/writer, journaler, and blogger. Find Helen online at Helen’s Table, Instagram:@helenstable, Pinterest, Twitter, My Brother’s Salsa, and No Ordinary Broom.