Metro Jacksonville

I have always had real trees... but... Last year my tree was infested with bugs.  About a week before Christmas came home to the tiny but sap filled brown bugs crawling around under the tree...ugh.  Sprayed it and hundreds more fell to the floor.  I had to remove all the ornaments, drain the water from the tree stand and carried it to the front lawn while these damn bugs are jumping off the tree and onto me and the floor.  I cut the lights off(by this time I wasnt feeling very merry) threw the thing into the back of my pick up and took it back to the place I bought it.  I didnt really think I would get my money back... I only wanted to give the bug infested tree back to them.  I actually got back 3/4 what I paid... Dude told me they were pine aphids.  To learn more click the link below...

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/christmas-tree-aphids.html

Any one else with a Christmas tree horror story?? :)

No horror stories here.  I just perfer the simplicity of a fake tree.  Besides, the newer fake trees are looking better and better and you can keep them somewhat decorated and just pack them away for next year.

I do LOVE the smell of a real tree though.

there is no option for both?

We have a big house so multiple trees...

Go for real.  Just be happy that you don't have to tread through snow to cut one down like I used to have to do!  Plus, synthetic pine needles don't do so well on a pet's stomach, if you know what I mean...

Quote from: uptowngirl on November 17, 2008, 03:11:57 PM
there is no option for both?

We have a big house so multiple trees...

Sorry UTG... I didnt even consider mixes or even more than one.  Forgive me... it is my first poll... :D

Quote from: Jason on November 17, 2008, 03:01:01 PM
No horror stories here.  I just perfer the simplicity of a fake tree.  Besides, the newer fake trees are looking better and better and you can keep them somewhat decorated and just pack them away for next year.

I do LOVE the smell of a real tree though.

They seem simple but after looking and pricing I am not so sure.  They seem awfully heavy... not sure how I would get it into storage attic.  Unlit or prelit?  Most trees now seem to be prelit but I am dubious of their longevity.

They make the rubber ones and they look and feel pretty real, but are expensive. If you always have one color of lights every year go pre-lit, if you like to change it up don't.

BT, hope you don't mind.  I added a "Both" option to your poll.

The tree I have is very lightweight.  I'd say that the packed up weight is no more than 10 pounds.  Getting into my attic is not a problem, however, I can see where some would have a tough time because of the layout of their attic.

When I had kids at home, it was always a real tree...but have since turned to having a realistic looking artificial one. I still prefer the real, it's just easier on me to have the artificial nowadays

Quote from: BridgeTroll on November 17, 2008, 03:46:28 PM

Quote from: uptowngirl on November 17, 2008, 03:11:57 PM
there is no option for both?

We have a big house so multiple trees...

Sorry UTG... I didnt even consider mixes or even more than one.  Forgive me... it is my first poll... :D

LOL! Well at least someone else chose the "both" option too so i am not the only freak with multiple trees! :D :D :D

Nope, not the only freak....that was my vote

Quote from: jbm32206 on November 17, 2008, 05:13:52 PM
Nope, not the only freak....that was my vote

We stopped having a tree a few years back, nothing against them, but do have 4 cats.  Last time we had one, we had tied it off, next thing we know look over and a small white cat head was popping out of the top of it and realized that it would be a few years before we could safely have one.  But we still decorate the house and outside

Quote from: Jason on November 17, 2008, 04:13:49 PM
BT, hope you don't mind.  I added a "Both" option to your poll.

The tree I have is very lightweight.  I'd say that the packed up weight is no more than 10 pounds.  Getting into my attic is not a problem, however, I can see where some would have a tough time because of the layout of their attic.

Thanks Bro... :)  10 Pounds??  The ones I have looked at must weigh closer to 80... 6-8 footers...

WIMP!  ;)

I pull down and set up (and put back at the end of the season) all our trees fake and real!

80 punds..LOL :D :D :D :D :D :D

Quote from: uptowngirl on November 18, 2008, 06:54:46 AM
WIMP!  ;)

I pull down and set up (and put back at the end of the season) all our trees fake and real!

80 punds..LOL :D :D :D :D :D :D

Actually lifting it isnt really the issue... I lug the real 6-8 footers into the house every year.  The boxes they come in are big and very unwieldy.  I have a hard time imagining myself atop a six foot ladder trying to get that box in and out of the attic by myself.  I have looked at smaller 5 foot trees but I think it would look kinda stupid.

Ahhh... I purchased Christmas tree bags, they look like giant rucksacks and make it MUCH easier to move!

While literally LOL'ing at Civil's cat-in-the-tree story, I realized that we have the same problem in the Doctor K household.  We have a small (4-foot) table-top, artificial, pre-lit tree that we put on an end table.  Our primary concern is indeed 'that darn cat,' who at least has been mostly trained to stay off such tables. 

However, L.L. Bean sells real-fir wreaths every year in their Christmas catalog.  Since we're stuck with a fake tree, we always order at least one wreath and hang it on the wall in the living room.  There's nothing like the smell of holiday greenery when you walk into your house.  The wreath is a great compromise when you can't have a nice-smelling real tree.

I ended up with a real tree BTW... probably always will.  I seriously went looking for a fake I could live with... but in the end... I am a traditionalist.  Who would have known...? ;D

My in-laws have an artificial with the lights built in.  Heavy as it can be but it sure is nice not to have to string those lights.

My parents have an artificial they pull out the attic.  I bought a real tree in 2001.  Everything was cool until I had to pull that thing out after New Years.  We had pine needles everywhere.  Since then I haven't put up a real or fake, although the wife does install lights outside.