The Perfect Fraser for You

You’ll know it when you see it! Choose your “just right” tree from among our large selection of North Carolina Fraser Firs.

Why Fraser? Fraser Firs are simply the best trees for a Florida Christmas. These trees are grown sustainably and are selected for GREAT performance, even when subjected to our well-above-freezing temperatures, holding their needles long past Santa’s entrance and exit!  Of course, we handle them as only a nursery will by keeping them well-watered and protected from the elements.  After you find yours, allow us to put a fresh cut on your tree, then take it home to soak in a bucket of water overnight. This technique will ensure that your tree gets re-hydrated before going into a stand.

Does it make sense to cut a Xmas Tree? How sustainable is that? Real trees help the environment from the time they are planted until after the holiday season when they can be recycled.  While they are growing, Christmas trees support life by absorbing carbon dioxide and other gases while giving off fresh oxygen. Every acre of Christmas trees planted gives off enough oxygen to meet the needs of 18 people. Today in America there are enough Christmas trees planted that 18 million people a day are supplied with oxygen. Also, the farms that grow Christmas trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies, and provide a refuge for wildlife while creating a nice scenic view. Often, Christmas trees are grown on soil that will not support any other crops. And when one Christmas tree is cut down, one or two are replanted in its place.

Most artificial trees are made from oil-based products that use up our natural resources. They are also not recyclable and will remain in landfills for centuries after disposal. Real Christmas trees, on the other hand, are recyclable. The branches and trunk are biodegradable and can be made into mulch for the garden. A Christmas tree placed in the back yard will make a nice bird feeder and the birds can also use the trees branches for shelter during the winter winds. Large quantities of trees make effective barriers on beaches to prevent soil erosion. Sunk into ponds, the trees will also make an excellent refuge and feeding area for fish.

Are you wondering what’s with the names hanging on these beautiful trees? The name is part of the tradition! In the Pinder family, there are five who have to agree on the tree.  It has to: fit just right in its time-honored location; have sturdy branches to hold the ceramic ornaments the kids made; meet Dad’s requirements of not-too-dry & not-too-expensive; and satisfy 3 different pairs of “child’s” eyes (you know, the kind of eyes that still see the magic). These considerations are probably pretty similar to yours, and selecting a tree that will live with you during one of the busiest, most enchanting times of year is a major undertaking, and we can all get pretty personal about major undertakings. Somehow, once the Pinder clan, and so many of the families who shop with us narrow it down to 2 or 3 trees, there is a realization that one has a name that brings to mind a special place, time, or person or that just brings a smile. There is something else we have observed; because a tree has a name, it has a personality, and that seems to make us care more about it!

When you are on a first name basis with your tree, prepare to compliment it (as you adjust ornaments & tinsel), bid it goodnight (as you unplug the lights), nurture it (as you water it) and memorialize it (as you drag it to the back yard to serve as cover for wintering birds).

We hope the names help you to enjoy the tradition of selecting and caring for a tree even more because we sincerely enjoy sending these individual treasures home with your family. We are always fascinated by how even the youngest child will recall the name of the tree they had last year!  (This big kid has had Max, Millie, and Sean, to name a few.)