Now that December is here, those of us who celebrate Christmas will be looking for that perfect tree to shine through out our holiday times. One thing that is troubling to me is the question of with what type of tree do we adorn our homes? Some people like the convenience of artificial trees, to keep and use year after year. Others prefer getting a cut tree for the wonderful smells it brings, along with dropping needles. Then there are those who have the space to plant, and buy a growing, potted tree. Lets look at all options, and you can decide which is best for you!

Artificial trees are easy to reuse, and can last up to 10 years or more with good care. They will not aggravate too many peoples allergies, unless the allergies are to vinyls. But most of these trees are hydrocarbon heavy, from the factory to the store.

Live cut trees are very common, my family has had one from my beginnings! Good things: renewable, use the carbon dioxide in the air, earth cooling, habitat creation while growing, and recyclable. But they grow in mono-cultures which involves high usage of pesticides and water, and also create hydrocarbons when trucked, and some need to be trucked long distances.

Potted live trees are my personal favorite, if I had a place to put it. There is some trucking involved, but most are local, which sustains the local grower. If you live in a place with the room, over the years 30 trees will offset the carbons from your home and car! One thing i found on the internet is the Original Living Christmas Tree Co., in Portland, Oregon; who for $55 will loan you a tree, then pick it up and plant it for $10 in a school or park. www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6753079/

Of course I knew that Tiny Choices had posted on this, forgot to credit or mention them, they do excellent and thorough environmental posts, check them out!

pic Flickr Creative Commons by the GraceFamily

Which of course means that probably the worst is yet to come. Here it is the Third of December and we are in our shirt sleeves, so warm, about 60 degrees F.

Yesterday did some envelope stuffing for our local Capital District Community Gardens, happy to be able to do that, raking is out of the question since had surgery on shoulder, some tearing but mainly bone scraping and tendon shortening, now in physical therapy.

But my first love is still available to do: designing gardens, and it is time to look at what you want to change for next year. Read a great book about the American Meadow, hope to institute some ideas in my daughter’s yard in the spring. Also doing some “studying” reading, “Understanding Perennials, A New Look at an Old Favorite,: by William Cullina. He really gets into the basics of botany of plants, almost a refresher for me, but the book goes beyond that with beautiful full color pictures and good descriptions.