Florida Grown Christmas Trees

People still love the tradition of real, natural trees in their homes for the holidays. This tradition dates back to the ancient Romans who during their winter festival decorated trees with small pieces of metal during Saturnalia, a winter festival in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture.

During the middle ages evergreens were decorated with apples as a symbol of the feast of Adam and Eve held on December 24th.

In the 16th century Martin Luther was credited as being the first to decorate an indoor tree by bringing a tree into his home and decorating it with candles.

Today�s decorations vary with individual tastes. They include special ornaments, garlands and bright lights.

Natural Christmas trees are used everywhere in both home and commercial decoration. Florida Christmas Tree They are used in all types of indoor and outdoor displays. The White House has a number of natural Christmas trees. Just think of how many natural Christmas trees you will see during the season!

Each year, Florida Christmas tree growers produce over 120,000 freshly cut quality trees to enhance the joy of your holiday season. In Florida, Red Cedar, Virginia Pine, Sand Pine, Spruce Pine, and Leyland Cypress are grown specifically for use as Christmas trees.

You do not think that they sell raggedy pines like you have in your yard for Christmas trees, do you? Actually, the young Christmas trees must be shaped or pruned to encourage the tree to branch more quickly, and gradually achieve the full bushy appearance people prefer in their Christmas trees.

During the three to six years it takes to grow into a well-shaped six to eight foot tree, the Christmas tree faces many hazards. Trees can suffer from too little sun, too much or too little rain, destruction by rodents, insects, disease, hail, fire, or by being overgrown by brush, vines or weeds.

Florida Christmas Tree farm Many tree farmers allow customers to choose and cut their own Christmas trees. This has helped renew the tradition of the entire family selecting and cutting the Christmas tree. I remember when we used to live up in Volusia County, driving out to the Christmas Tree Farm to choose and cut a pine to take to the house to use as a Christmas tree. Every year we called it the Big Bear Tree because it was big and bushy like a Russian bear. And oh, did it smell. If you choose a Sand Pine from a Christmas Tree Farm you will notice that it smells a little different than regular Christmas trees from "up north". If you crush a handful of needles they smell like tangerines. Now, I don't know of a better smell for a Florida grown Christmas tree than tangerines. Do you?

Christmas tree farmers work hard to provide quality trees to market in the freshest condition Florida Christmas Trees possible. Many farmers say that the hard work is all worthwhile when they see a happy family and the excitement of children as they help select the family�s Christmas tree.

For more information about Florida Christmas trees, or the tree farm nearest you, contact:

Florida Christmas Tree Association at 1-800-554-TREE, or 1-800-554-8733

Florida Christmas Tree Growers List

Source: Florida Department of Agriculture