Do you see all the different types of Christmas trees they have here at tree plantation? It is amazing. And recognize once you are picking out the type of tree I want, but I am having such a hard time. They are all so pretty, I want to take them all home and you are going to have that same problem when you go to cut down your own Christmas tree. I mean, most growers normally grow a handful grains which I was actually surprise to learn when I came out here. This is the first time I have ever been to a Christmas tree farm, and when I think of a Christmas tree, I think of a Christmas tree, it is green and has needles, but when I come here, it is like I have walked into a star wax and there all of this options and they all seem like they are exactly the same but they are not and you have no idea how to choose which one is right for you. So although they look like an idiot and walk around this Christmas tree farm for hours trying to figure out which variety I want to take home, I decided to go ask Franklin Tenochi, the owner here which Christmas tree is right for me. Oh yes, and find out which variety is right for you.

I am hitting the road searching for answers and finding great design. It is a quest for beauty, function, and of course, inspiration. Alright, to show me all of this different varieties.

Well, there are about five different varieties that we grow here. This---

Are they the main types that are grown in most places?

Yes, in this part of the country and that is really important because certain areas---

We are in Ohio right now by the way.

Yes, we are in Ohio. We are in the mid west and certain areas where only the ground really support certain species of trees. And so, this Scotch pine was the most popular tree when we started 27 years ago and the reason it was popular because it grows well in this soils and it did not take much fertilizer though it not. People like them because they have stiff branches and they hold up well, they will last a long time. Disadvantages, crooked trunks, not much of an aroma and a little bit prickly.

Yes, does look a little prickly.

So, we actually use this a lot for foulage, for different evergreen reason things.

Oh yes, that makes sense.

Because of their endurance and there is another pine that we grow, called the white pine, they are over here if you want to take a look.

Alright.

Okay.

So what is this really fuzzy soft looking tree?

Well, this tree is called a white pine. It too grows well in this soils and people like that because it really is fuzzy and soft. The advantage to it is that you can, because it does grow also well here, it is less expensive. And some of the furs, they take a longer time to grow. The disadvantage is the white---

I can smell it just in here.

Can you?

Yes.

Yes, they have a little more aroma than the Scotch pine there. The branches are low so you cannot heavy ornaments---

Yes, I was going to ask you about that cause it looks like, because it is so soft and fluffy, it looks like it would just get witted down.

And then you might say what about all this yellow needles in here? Well, they shed their inside needles every year and what we do is if you would, if we have to have this tree and we cut it down, then, when we take it up to be processed, we shake the tree. Maybe I can show you that later. And these dead needles will come out. So, we will just kind of clean it that way.

Yes, and do you have those off come straight out.

Yes. And people who have then in their yard to call us and worry about you know, what has happen to my tree, it is turning yellow. Not all evergreens do this but this particular variety thus. But they are really a nice friendly tree; most people decorate them with just lights and bulbs and that type of thing.

So what is the next variety? Show me that one.

Good, let us go over here and we will feast on fur trees. Well, I wanted you to see this particular tree. It is a variety of fur; it comes from the main valley of West Virginia. it is a bracketed bosom and so they gave it a name Conifer, it is very soft, it is very friendly, it has a great aroma, holds up well and this is the popular tree in Ohio now.

Yes, because I was going to say this is what I think of when I think of a Christmas tree. This is the mental image I have.

Well, the old fashion bosom tree is what the pictures were taken Norman Rockwell and this is an improve version of it. This has about twice as many needles on it and as suppose to the flat bosom look but the branches are fairly strong and you can put the lighting as really something that you can do a lot with on this tree. Morphing the lights from the inside out and it looks gorgeous and our costumers tell us they have for four or five weeks and they hate it take them out because they are still soft and green and smell good so.

And this one, you said their branches are stiff that you can put pretty heavy ornaments on it?

Fairly, it is not as strong as the Scotch pine.

What about needles? How long would you say these needles last compared to the other trees?

Excellent, they are actually growing this now, they have been getting the genetic down and they have trees that they have isolated and have less than one percent needle drop.

Wow.

So, the shedding of this is minimal. Every one of this trees that we grow has good needle retention. The only one that is not quite as good as blue spruce, all of the spruces have more retentive drop of needle. The furs and pines hold up really well.

That is good you know.

So, usually, people that really prefer a blue spruce, they know that and they do not put it up for first weekend in December, they will usually wait until mid December and but again, it has its advantages, really sturdy branches can handle those heavy ornaments you woman seem to love.

I am not going to take that the wrong way.

Well, do not.

So the blue spruce is good because it has the stiff branches, bad because it needles drop. What else can you tell me about it?

Well, the color and shape is just gorgeous, I mean it just naturally pretty. We hardly do any trimming on a blue spruce. Whereas, every other variety here we have to trim every year just to keep it in proportion and also keep it from getting so wide that you cannot get it in your house and or takes up half the room.

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