It was recorded in 1584 in Latvia, Europe, that young men with “a flock of maidens,” sang and danced around a decorated fir tree in the market square and then set the tree aflame!
No need to torch your Christmas tree these days, with live trees available at Down to Earth Gardens and Nursery in Metchosin.
Eko and Kelly Chashai have operated Down to Earth for over 20 years, catering to those who love the traditions of keeping the holiday season alive with greenery of all kinds. New this year are the live Christmas trees. “People are excited about the live trees, in some cases planting them after Christmas in memory of a loved one,” Kelly says. “And you can definitely keep it for next year if you water it well.”
Choosing a tree is very personal. It could be the tree that your parents always chose, or you may want to start your own tradition. Down to Earth trees are all from British Columbia. You might not be aware, but in the last couple of years there’s been a shortage of trees due to drought and fire forcing commercial lots to truck-in trees from Nova Scotia. Here are some tree descriptors that will help you choose.
- Douglas Firs have branches lower to the ground, are heavily scented and full – ideal to show off twinkling lights.
- Noble Firs give off a heavenly citrus smell, welcoming guests into your home.
- Grand Firs have thicker branches with more spaces in-between, perfect for heavier ornaments.
- Fraser Firs are a marriage of both the Dougie and Grand Firs – nice and full with strong branches.
Tips for Keeping Your Tree and Greenery Fresh
- For live trees inside the house – take a large zip-lock bag, make a few holes on the bottom and fill with a couple handfuls of ice. Place the bag on the soil inside the pot both at night and in the morning.
- To reduce shedding of needles, your cut tree will need lots of water – about four litres per day. Tree stands don’t hold that volume, so use a combo of the ice method and watering. Plus, spray with water twice a day and set up the tree away from blowing heat.
- For wreaths and swags – Down to Earth already sprays them with pinesap, so you should be fine. If indoors, just spray once a day.
Bring Nature into Your Festive Season
Botanicals bring the beauty of nature into your home. Kelly says with pride, “We custom make the botanical baskets and centre pieces with holly, evergreen boughs, seed pods, pine cones and berries. Each one is unique. The Winter Whites botanicals are a beautiful and scented mixture of blue Eucalyptus, Magnolias and silver-tinted pine cones.” And who wouldn’t smile when receiving a whimsical grinch tree!