Newspapers / The Brunswick beacon. / Dec. 9, 1993, edition 1 / Page 13
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Choose A Live Tree This Christmas The day after Halloween, I see Christmas decorations, and that means poinsettias, Christmas trees, presents and food! L.ast year I re ceived quite a few letters after Christmas from folks who wanted information about Christmas plants, so I will try to address some of those questions BEFORE Christmas this year. This week's question: What should I know to select a Christmas tree? Answer: Nothing. Choose a Christmas tree from the heart and choose one that you like. Here are some of my thoughts on choosing a Christmas tree. Christmas is just not complete without Santa Claus, poinsettias, an open fire and a LIVE Christmas tree. More than a million live Christ mas trees are sold in North Carolina every year. Many of liiese iiees come from northern sources, some as far away as Nova Scotia. How ever, North Carolina growers do an excellent job of producing high quality Christmas trees. So, if you have a choice, buy locally grown plants. The average Christmas tree will take five to eight years to grow into a correctly shaped, healthy 6-foot specimen. Trees require special care, fertilization, pruning and cultivation. Years ago. Christmas tree produc tion was viewed by some investors as a way to "get rich quick." Christ mas tree farmers soon found out that producing high-quality trees re quires substantial investment of fi nancial resources, labor and knowl edge before the perfect tree could be grown. You will see many species of Christmas trees in the market place. I will briefly review and describe some of the more commonly avail able tree species. Firs make an excellent Christmas tree. Three main species are preva lent in availability from North Carolina Christmas tree vendors: the Frasier fir ( Abies fraseri), the Bal THE PLANT DOCTOR C. BRUCE WILLIAMS Extension Area Turf Specialist SS '?? sam fir ( Abies balsamea) and the Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii). The Douglas fir is not a true fir but for simplicity it will he grouped with the other firs. The Frasier and Balsam firs have a fragrant aroma, dark green foliage, strong branches to support orna ments and excellent needle reten tion. Any of the firs make exceiient Christmas trees. Plan to pay a pre mium price for these trees, since growing them can take up to 12 years. The White Pine ( Pinus strobus) is native to the mountains of western North Carolina. This tree has a soft blue-green color, pleasant fragrance and good needle retention. White pines tend to wilt more than other species and branches are rather weak for heavy ornamentation. However, when this tree is properly watered and pruned, there is no bet ter Christmas tree. The Scotch Pine ( Pinus sylveslris) is the leading plantation-grown Christmas tree in the United States. This tree was originally planted for erosion control on poor soils. Proper cultivation and pruning will make a Cinderella out of this erosion fighter. Scotch pines have stiff branches and excellent needle retention, but their natural color is yellow green. Many growers use natural vegetable dyes to spray trees and this practice alleviates the lack of green color common to the Scotch pine. The Spruce (Picea species) is known worldwide for the clean fresh Union Elementary Releases Fourth Grade Honors List ?ion Elementary School in Shallotte has released its fourth grade honor roll and most improved list for the first nine-week grading period, as follows: A-R Honor Roll Kim Bowen, Felicia Geddings, Maliory Hewett, Joshua Knight, Shannon Long, Lavar Marlow, Todd Summer, Ashley Bourland, Ashley Bryan, Grace Moffett, Blaire Ansley, Keri Roberts, Byron Nelson, Chris tina Fiorentino, Donald Nealy, Ro bert Muller, Robert Morgan, Mary Katherine Baker, Becky Hall, Kortney Carter, April Gause, Meagan Potts, Jessica Schwab, Bradley Smith, Kristen Ward, Britt Williams, Megan Williams and Nikki Williams. Most Improved Neil Smith, Jermaine Bryant, Michael Cheek, Jacquelyn Bush, Japheth Hester, Martez Hill, Jessica Wilkinson, Takethia Gore, Robert Muller, Louis Tavares and Celia Everhart. ?A Hours A DayV7 Days ? ShaUotte-Jct. Hwy. 17 & Holden Bch Hd r?+c t?H' ts<l.?.y K PfAi-y When Taste Matters Give yourself a gift this season. The ^ delicious taste of Colombo Frozen Yogurt Freezin's 4L Greetings | * Colombo m< 1991 * 1 Bring this to stoi e listed Buy a large serving iU of Colombo Frozen Yogurt and get a second C of equal or lesser value Free. for IGood at Shallotte and Southport Express Stops ^ Lirrui 1 per customer No* rMtemiW# to* ctsti Not vM with any ot rm promotion jljEXPRESS (Shades & Shadows Christmas Favorites V K Wrought Iron Beauty & Old Fashioned Charm Available in floor, table and wall lamps-new arrivals in time for Christmas! Lots of candles and accents for the holidays tool Our selection of crystal, brass , ceramic, and seashell. . . Finials make great gifts for teachers, friends, and secret pals. Give new life to family heirlooms we offer custom lampmaking for your favorite vase, or we can electrify your old oil lamps. Choose from hundreds of shades in stock. Take Hwy. 130 West, Near Whiteville ? 640-2758 ? (Just past BEMC) Open M-T-T-T 10-5 & Sat. 10-3, Closed Wed. smell of its needles. The spruce has gotxl branch structure for ornamenta tion but poor needle retention. I know from past experience that spruce nee dles can be tough to get out of the carpet after holiday festivities. For me, the Christmas tree of choice is the eastern red cedar ( lu - n i perils Virginia). As a child, I re member walking the family farm looking up and down the barbed wire fence rows for the perfect Christmas tree. The wild, native red cedar is a mean tree, with prickly needles and limber branches that will leave splinters in your hands for weeks. Please note that cultivated and pruned red cedars are much better shaped and behaved than their wild counterpart. "ITie fragrance of the red cedar is the essence of Christmas to me. Provide plenty of water for your Red cedar because this tree is espe cially prone to drying out. A living Christmas tree is some thing special. It is the focal point for fellowship during the holidays, so, whatever kind of tree you choose for your Christmas, enjoy it. Next week I will answer ques tions and discuss the secrets of keep ing poinsettias and other Christmas plants beautiful. Send your gardening question and comments to The Plant Doctor, P.O. Box 109, Bolivia, N.C. 28422. ??ABOO CHIROPRACTIC "^803-249-9787 be (Across from Hardees) Hwy. 17, Little River. SC ULTATION Golfers & Visitors Welcome ?Handle all Types of Chiropractic Cases ?No Appointments Necessary ?1903 THC BRUNSWICK BTACON DR. ROBIN LABOD All fees received for services rendered Tuesday, December 14 will be donated to a local charity. At Little Professor, 'Ihere's a Gift for Everyone Regional, Travel & History {jc^cTj Nature & Science Little Professor Business Book Center % Audio Tapes Children's Books Best Sellers & Paperbacks River Run Shopping Center Southporl NC 910-457-9653 Mon-Sat 10 - 8 Sundays 1-5 Calendars Books on Tape Religion & Inspiration USDA Choice Beef Full Cut "Boneless1 Round Steak $159 X Lb. Save $1.00 Grade A Jumbo Pack Chicken Leg Quarters .Christmas' Trees AuailaJble In. I Most Stores f5T? Fresh Florida Tangeloes 4 Lb. Bag 1 Extra Lean Fresh Big 8 All Meat Gwaltney Franks Spare Ribs 1*39 Reg. & Lower Salt Armour Bacon Oranges 4 Lb. Bag Grapefruit All Flavors Cream $Q99 5 Qt. Bucket Your Choice jm ^ < Fresh Collard, Kale, Turnip or Mustard Greens Lb. Food Lion Gift Certificates Now Available. Extra Low Pricks^.. Everyday! 13 Oz. Vacuum Bag Reg. /Electric /AD Folgers Flaked Coffee 15 Oz. Kellogg's Sugar Frosted Flakes 1 Lb. Parkay Margarine Quarters sri 10 Oz. - Food Lion Reg. Pie Shells 79 ^71 16 Ounce Oreo Prices in this sd good Wednesday, Dec. 8 thru Tuesday. Dec. 14, 1993. We Reserve The Right To Limit Quantities. Diet Coke, Caffeine Free Diet Coke, Sprite Coke Classic 3 Liter 6 Pack - 20 Oz. Non Returnable Bottles Diet Coke. Caffeine Free Diet Coke. Coke Classic, Sprite. Diet Sprite 2.05 cMr.
Dec. 9, 1993, edition 1
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