A Perfect Christmas Tree
By: Kristy and Kelly Lewis
Tom and Susie (fictional couple) love being married. It has only been a few short months but they look forward to spending their first Christmas together. Of course, money is tight with Tom in college, but they still want to start some traditions and make Christmas special. They eagerly go shopping for their first Christmas tree. Walking between the trees in a department store, they can’t help imaging putting one in the front room of their small apartment. They start getting excited until Tom sees a price tag. Crestfallen, they realize these Christmas trees will use up most of their budget for Christmas. They have to choose between a Christmas tree and presents.
Many of us have similar stories. I remember shopping for my first Christmas Tree as a young married couple. We lived in Provo at the time, and struggled to find something that fit in our budget. I love the smell of the trees in my home, it just makes the season that much better. As we searched for a tree, a friend told us about the Merrill Family Christmas Trees and we were hooked. James Merrill knows what it is like to be scraping together money to buy a Christmas Tree.
That is one of the reasons he started the “Five Dollar Forest” at his lot. The forest is full of Christmas trees under 5 ft tall. The Merrill Family also sells a $10 “Tree in a Can” and $5 collages. Prices go up from there as trees get taller. They have trees 5 feet tall to 25 feet tall, $5 to $100. He sells wild trees and trees from a farm. They have trees for most everyone. James wants everyone to be able to have a real Christmas tree in their home. Merrill Family Christmas Trees is ‘the low price leader,’ specializing in wild trees. “ I could charge more, but I don’t. I want everyone to have a real one,” states James.
“ I want this business to thrive, meaning the Christmas tree business,“ says James. With 18 Years in the business he goes out each year with his experienced 80 year old mentor to cut trees. He has been dedicated to learning the “tricks of the trade.” There are just some do’s and do not’s about tree cutting. Really only 3 out of 10 trees will work as Christmas trees. When talking about trees and the business James comments, “I like doing it, I really do.”
At his new location, 1825 South Highway 89/91 between Cox’s Honeyland and Flying J, you can find James braving the weather every night, helping families pick out the best trees. In his family they don’t celebrate Christmas until the holiday is over. Believe it or not, but there are some last minute Christmas tree shoppers. “At first it was hard spending Christmas like this, but it is the family business and everyone helps where and when they can.”
The Merrill lot holds wild Christmas Trees of 7 different varieties, sizes, and prices. James hand picks these wild trees. The first Christmas tree’s started when men were called in to thin out the undergrowth of the forest to help the older trees grow taller and stronger. It is a great opportunity to get Christmas trees while making the forest more healthy. The wild trees are beautiful and have plenty of room for ornaments. In fact the tree that we bought last year came with pine cones, you don’t get that with a fake one. These are just a few of the great things about the Merrill Family Christmas Trees.
Tips for Christmas Trees
www.christmastree.org contains the best collection of facts and tips on how to best care for your tree.
The National Christmas Tree Association did a 2 year study and found the best additive for Christmas trees is plain water. Just plain water without chlorination, if possible.
Keep Christmas Trees as far away from heat sources as possible. If tree is close to a heating vent, make sure it is closed.
Before putting tree in a stand, cut at least a ½ inch off, straight across perpendicular to the trunk. A flat, straight cut is best for the uptake of water.
You can lower the temperature in the room with the tree to keep freshness and reduce water uptake.
Keep tree in a stand that fits. And make sure the water is always above the bottom of the trunk. Check the water everyday.
Use lights that produce less heat to reduce drying of trees. Miniature lights produce less heat.
Remember to turn off tree lights when leaving or going to sleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment