This year, we didn't have very far to travel at all to get our tree, as it has spent the last twelve months quite happily in the garden. I've been keeping it in the pot for now, making sure to keep it well watered during the summer months but I expect I will plant it out properly some time in the new year.
My personal preference is for a real tree. For several years, when Lily was very small, and for the first Christmas after we got Mog, we used an artificial tree, but for me it just wasn't quite the same. I love the irregularity of a real tree, the imperfections, the scent and yes, even the needles which always get absolutely everywhere. But...it has to still be growing. With roots. In a pot.
When I see cut trees, it makes me sad. I know, I know. This probably makes me sound a little bit weird to most people, but it's just how I feel.
Anyway, with the forecast looking a bit damp for the next few days and Lily intent on decorating the tree on the 8th this year (because that is how old she is, of course!) this evening, after school, between us we carefully carried the tree into the porch to give enough time for the branches to dry out. It is looking surprisingly fresh and even survived being blown over in the recent storm. But regardless, I think most trees look pretty once adorned with fairy lights and some favourite decorations.
Being a little impatient, we made a start by decorating the small tree instead. This one was looking a little sparse by comparison, but with the addition of a small string of lights and a few simple star decorations (I still need to find the little bells), it is beginning to look lovely and festive.
J. X
I’m so loving your blog every day. Yesterdays snowy pictures are wonderful. It’s lovely to have a record of Christmas as it happens. B x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barbara. X
DeleteIsn't it amazing how a small string of lights makes such a difference.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly does look festive in the photograph you've shared today.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. I'm looking forward to decorating our other tree tomorrow, although I've yet to find the little bells. X
DeleteThose lights look so pretty. I love the way of decorating to match her age.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat. I use copper wire lights on the little tree. They sit easily on the small branches. X
DeleteAnything you add a string of lights to looks instantly festive. We have gone for rooted trees in the last few years and plant them afterwards up in Scotland - our present outdoor tree is too big to transport now so it will remaing here I expect though it will one day outgrow any pot we put it in.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to hear from you everyday with your Christmas preparations.x 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
They grow quickly don't they. I just checked last years photographs and it looks quite a lot taller already. X
DeleteI do not think you are weird being concerned about the cut trees. I love all trees and hate to see them cut down. Here in Brighton we have a disease called 'Dutch Elm Disease' and every now and them they have to cull some of them. It makes me so sad to see them cut down after standing there in all of their glory for many many years.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
I'm relieved I'm not alone in this :)
DeleteI love that you keep your tree in a pot in the garden all year! And yes, fairy light make everything look better, especially on these dull days.
ReplyDeleteWe had our previous tree for several years, so I hope this one will last us a little while longer. X
DeleteI love the fact that you have a living tree, one that is growing in a pot! I have switched to an artificial tree; it's less expensive. It still sheds its artificial needles, however! And Dancer loves to nibble on them! :D
ReplyDeleteI have to be sure to keep it well watered but it has the advantage of holding it's needles quite well. Fortunately for me, Mog leaves the tree alone. X
DeleteMe too, me too - I hate seeing all the cut trees just waiting to die. It seems such a damn waste. That's why we bought an expensive artifical one 20 years ago and it is still looking good enough after two decades.
ReplyDeleteI love Lily's logic as to the date the tree must be decorated 🥰
20 years! That's impressive.
DeleteI have no idea where this idea of Lily's has come from, but I quite like it. X
I confess you made me dig through the photo archives. I was wrong, that tree is not 20 years old - this year is it's 16th. I feel a blog post coming on, thank you ☺️
DeleteI like the sound of this :)
DeleteAs you know, I have a lovely artificial tree but you have a good point re: a tree in a pot and have made me wonder. After all, I have other trees in pots in my garden, why not a fir tree. I will ponder on this. Thanks.
ReplyDeletexx
Your tree looks gorgeous, Joy. I would love to have one that tall. X
DeleteMorning Jules. I can smell the pine scent from your tree from here. Such a wonderful Christmas aroma. Mine are both artificial but I do agree that if you are having a real one it should be with roots and living healthly outside until now and put back afterwards. Simple tree lights make it magical. Have a great day x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beverley. It is pouring with rain here this afternoon, so I'm glad we brought the tree in yesterday. X
DeleteWell done caring for the tree so well and bringing the living tree into your home to enjoy this Christmas. Sadly we won't be putting up our artificial tree this year as it will be a magnet for a certain young pup.
ReplyDeleteOh dear! My dogs never used to bother with the tree but I could never hang any chocolate decorations from it. X
DeleteMy favourite thing about a real tree is the imperfection - my mum is a tree perfectionist and so I very much enjoy anything that looks a little more haphazard and relaxed.
ReplyDeleteNon-growing real trees here are collected and buried on the beach to help with the dunes regeneration project, which is a very good thing. Plus it's always fun to me to see thousands of Christmas trees sticking out of the sand!
Yay for imperfections!
DeleteI think I remember you writing about the trees being used for the dunes project. That's a great way of repurposing them. X
I didn't think we'd ever had a real tree but Mick insists we did one year, I can't remember it at all. We've bought a new artificial tree this year, the old one had definitely seen better days.
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me just how realistic they are these days. I hope you'll be posting an picture of your decorated tree. X
DeleteYears ago, when my eldest was about 12 we popped into a supermarket and out side was the sorriest selection of trees and he chose the saddest, his reasoning was .. It needed love... Now ten years on, "treebeard" lives in the garden and comes in every winter. He's blossomed somewhat and each year I wonder if this will be his last as a festive tree because he is rather unwieldy to lug in and out!
ReplyDeleteThis is so lovely. I'm clearly not alone in my 'weirdness' :)
Deletethe scent of the pine is so lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt smells like Christmas to me. X
DeleteI think a potted tree gives the best of both worlds, there seems to be a lot of them about this year. I haven't put a tree up for years it seems a bit pointless when I'm on my own, but my son and his wife are travelling to the UK for Christmas (restrictions permitting)and will be staying with me for a few days so I may bring my artificial tree down from the loft, I have never had a real one. xx
ReplyDeleteI think it is a lovely idea to put your tree up in time for your son's visit. X
DeleteI think the scent of a real tree epitomises Christmas completely. Don't you just love children's logic - decorating on the 8th because that's how old Lily is makes all sort of sense :) xx
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how or why she came up with this idea. I am happy to go along with it, however :) X
DeleteI love a real tree and I don't think I would ever consider an artificial one. We don't have one in a pot unfortunately but we probably should. I love the scent of Christmas trees, it is just so cosy. When I was growing up, we always had real candles on the tree, I loved that, too. I have come to to accept the fairy lights. Have fun decorating x
ReplyDeleteI can understand why for many people an artificial tree is far more preferable. It's just wonderful to have a choice isn't it.
DeleteI imagine the tree would look beautiful with real candles, although I think fairy lights are perhaps a slightly safer option :)
I do love real trees we always had one when I was a child even though were had very little money.it was my and my brother job to decorate it.I don't have a tree anymore.There is only ever two of us at Christmas,we have no family so I don't bother.I do decorate the house though.xxx
ReplyDeleteI leave most of the decorating to Lily. I occasionally need to rearrange the baubles just to even them out :)
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