Real or Fake, It's National Christmas Tree Week

It’s National Christmas Tree Week—as declared recently by the U.S. Senate—so why not honor Senate Resolution 341 and head out to buy a real tree. Whether you choose Douglas, noble or grand to fir-nish your holiday spirit, there are places near and nearer at which to purchase your Christmas tree.

In Cupertino you have a few choices of places to purchase a tree including Yamagami’s Nursery, which opened its fresh cut tree lot the day after Thanksgiving, as well as big box stores such as Home Depot.

Emerald Forest, a seasonal lot on Stevens Creek Boulevard between Tantau Avenue and Wolfe Road, has been in business in the area for about 25 years and gets freshly cut trees every four days.

Prices start at $8 per foot for Douglas firs; $10 for grand fir; and $11 for noble firs—they all come from a tree farm in Oregon, according to Chip Sotir, who says he is quite lenient when he measures the height of the trees for pricing.

Sotir says Douglas firs are full and bushy, but drop their needles quickly. Nobles last the longest but aren’t nearly as fragrant as the grand.

“Pineapples and citrus,” is the aroma you’ll get from the crushed needles off a grand, Sotir says as he demonstrates and soaks in the fragrance.

Grands branches are long and flowing until a tree cutter shapes them into the conical shape we know as a Christmas tree.

For those not “in the know” about the real, or fresh—not fake or artificial—Christmas tree industry, real trees have been getting chopped financially over the years as the artificial tree industry beefed up its marketing campaign. A move by the National Christmas Tree Association to self-impose a 15-cent tax (Senate Resolution 341) on its industry to create a promotional campaign to help growers research, development and market its industry got the ax by the Obama administration after pundits cried foul over a new tax, though the tax originally was approved.

The Senate declaration for National Christmas Tree Week is suspected to be a softener to the whack the tree association took to its program, which was likened to other industry group campaigns such as “Got Milk” or “Where’s the Beef?” campaigns.

So if you want to support the growth of fresh trees, here are some other places to shop where you can also support a non-profit organization at the same time.

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A little tidbit of trivia finds that the tradition of a decorated real tree can be traced back to Riga, Latvia, in 1510, at least that’s according to the Northwest Herald.

Mountain View:

Fresh cut trees: Help support local high school sports when you buy your tree at the  Tree Lot.

The Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District promises a better selection. It is open at its new location at 1035 El Monte Rd., on the corner of El Camino Real in the and CVS parking lot. It has premium-grade noble firs, 3 to 11 feet in size, free bagging and a guarantee for the entire season. Also your purchase is tax deductible. You can also direct up to 20 percent of your purchase to any school or organization. Hours are 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekends until Dec. 20. You can order online at mvlatrees.com.

Los Altos:

25th Annual Los Altos Kiwanis Tree Lot, parking lot, Foothill Expressway and Arboretum Ave., Los Altos. Selling noble firs, wreaths, garlands and centerpieces. Monday through Friday 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. As Los Altos Kiwanis says: "It makes a difference where you buy your tree!" 

Palo Alto:

Sea Scouts Christmas Tree Lot, at the Little League field at 3672 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto, offers fresh-cut Christmas trees. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends. 650-493-6614. The lot is its biggest venue to raise money to subsidize fuel and maintenance costs that keeps their program affordable.

Paly Sports Boosters Tree Lot, at the northwest corner of , 50 Embarcadero Rd., opens 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

Gilroy:

CHS Christmas tree lot fundraiser: The Christopher High School track and field team will sell Christmas trees in the back parking lot at CHS as a fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 11. They will have Douglas fir, noble fir and Turkish fir trees available. The fundraiser is to help the team with the cost of uniforms, travel and equipment. Free hot chocolate will be available. Details: Jeff. Myers@gusd.k12.ca.us.