THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412090323
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY PATRICIA HUANG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 126 lines
EVERY YEAR, just when Philip Moulton proudly finished decorating his Christmas tree, someone would come along to ask if they could buy it.
Moulton, a Christmas tree farmer, runs one of the biggest Christmas tree lots in Chesapeake each winter.
He's stopped decorating trees on his lot at Blue Ridge Evergreen Nursery, since he can't bear to unravel the tinsel from trees adorned only moments before. But his lot full of nicely shaped, naked trees off North Battlefield Boulevard still attracts hundreds of customers.
Boasting that he can tell customers exactly when each tree was cut, Moulton said he hand-picked each of the 1,500 trees he brought down from his Floyd County farm.
Short and fat spruce trees are lined up next to fluffy-looking white pines. Nearby is a line of fragrant Fraser firs, the favorite of Chesapeake tree-buyers, according to Moulton.
Two little girls ran by, taking their turns to duck and hide under the branches. They wove their way between the rows of trees, screaming, ``Catch me.''
Picking out a Christmas tree is the great family outing, Moulton said. He encourages people to take their time on the lot, offering them hot cider made from apples grown in his brother's orchard and passing out free tree-recycling coloring books. Families can also come and watch wreaths being made by hand.
``I grow trees for a living, so I want you to be happy when you leave,'' he said.
Little white lights strung over the trees and across the lot create a stage for the show that Moulton prepares for all year long. His employees cut the bottoms of trees for customers and secure them on their car rooftops while Moulton handles a variety of tree questions with ease and expertise.
He ran his hand up and down a white pine, saying its classic Colonial look and long, soft needles attract people. ``But this tree needs to be decorated simply. See? Feel it. It doesn't hold ornaments very well,'' he said pushing a soft limb down with a finger.
Nationally, the Scotch pine tree is the No. 1 seller, said Moulton, a member of the National Christmas Tree Growers Association. But the Fraser fir, a fragrant tree with a citrus smell and strong branches, will soon surpass it, he predicted. Fraser firs keep their needles on their branches longer.
The blue spruce, on the other hand, has a subtle powder-blue tint to it but will drop its sharp needles on your floor after a short time. Moulton suggests that a blue spruce tree be bought with the roots still attached, or ``balled and burlaped.'' That way it can be replanted in the yard after the holidays.
Moulton's prices start at $15 for short trees and go up to $100 for a 15-footer.
At McDonald's Garden Center on Portsmouth Boulevard, the price range is similar. Ryan Andrews, a customer service clerk who calls himself ``the permanent Christmas tree guy,'' said their live trees come fresh from North Carolina so they need only endure a short ride.
At the garden center, employees can put trees in a mechanical gizmo they call ``Little Shakey'' that will shake loose needles out.
The garden center offers a variety of live trees but also boasts 52 kinds of artificial ones. Some of the artificial trees are 12 feet tall and come in a variety of colors.
One Andrews especially likes is a gold-tipped tree. When lights illuminate the tree, the gold-tipped ends lend it a full and glowing appearance.
For the live trees, Andrews suggests putting an additive called Prolong in the water at the base of the tree. This will help the tree stay fresh longer. But the secret to keeping a tree alive is simple: Just keep the tree stand filled with water. With plenty of water, most trees should survive at least two months in your home, he said.
And when the holidays are over and done with, Moulton urges people to recycle their trees. They can be placed in ponds for fish or in your back yards as bird feeders, he said. You can make the trees into mulch and compost. [For a related story, see page 15 of The Clipper for this date.] ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
LEFT: Stefanie Stanphill makes wreaths in a shed at the Blue Ridge
Evergreen Nursery on North Battlefield Boulevard.
BELOW: Brian Mundie hauls out a Christmas tree to put on display at
the Blue Ridge lot.
LEFT: Morgan Pinner, left, and her mother Faith Pinner check out a
tree held up by Larry Young at B & R Christmas Trees in Western
Branch.
BELOW: Richard Jefferson cuts his own tree at Holiday Christmas Tree
Farm.
TREE TIPS
PICKING IT OUT
Live and artificial Christmas trees are available throughout
Chesapeake during the holiday season. The cost of an 8-foot tree is
about $40 or less at most locations.
Check with your local church, grocery store and nursery to see
what they offer. Home improvement stores, such as HQ and Lowes, also
carry trees.
Wal-Mart, K mart, Farm Fresh and Roses offer artificial trees for
as little as $15 or $20.
McDonald's Garden Center on Portsmouth Boulevard offers a variety
of 52 artificial trees as well as various live spruce and fir trees.
They sell live trees with the roots for $35 to $80. Live cut trees
range from $20 to $130. Artificial trees sell for $20 to $400.
WHERE TO SHOP
1152 George Washington Highway North
425 North Battlefield
225 South Military
2149 South Military Highway
4033 Portsmouth Boulevard
4300 Portsmouth Boulevard
3405 Western Branch Blvd
THROWING IT OUT
The city will provide 12 drop-off locations for Christmas trees
the day after Christmas. You can bring your tree to be turned into
mulch and compost at these recycling centers, which will be
published at a later date. Mulch and compost can be purchased
there.
During the first two weeks of January, the city will pick up
Christmas trees at curbside on your regular pickup day.
Call 547-6010 for further information.
by CNB