Vote for a Christmas tree, support community

For many families it’s an annual tradition – picking out the flawless Christmas tree.

That’s according to Peter Hartung, owner of Hilliker Tree Farm near Tomah, Wis.

Fresh-cut trees add a special touch to the festive season, but be prepared to work to keep that fresh look.

Bruce Bauer of Bauer’s Market and Garden Center in La Crescent agreed. “They seem to support us in good times and bad times”.

“They’re with us this year for Christmas and this is the first time they’ve ever encountered anything like this, so we’d thought it’d be a good experience for them and they’ve had fun…so it’s what family is about”, Chappell said.

There’s an ongoing debate at the Gazette about when to dust off the Christmas decorations and pick out a tree.

If you visit Ergle Christmas Tree Farm, leave room in your own tank; fresh kettle corn is a staple here.

But snow is not a requirement, Miller said.

This year the natural Fraser Fir tree’s are the most popular and Huron View Tree Farm prunes every tree differently so families can select their ideal tree whether it’s tall and fat or short and skinny.

“They take them out and plant trees, teach them about trees”, Viehmann said.

The Bunstine family has been coming to Hickory Farm since they moved to Alexandria in 1995.

“Every year we replant”, he said.

Buyers we spoke with today, like Thomas Williams, say the slight increase isn’t deterring them from getting in the Christmas spirit.

“For a Christmas tree farm it’s just important to get the right amount of rainfall”.

Peter, the managing director of the Christmas tree haven that is Calcott Hall Farm, explains: “We have non-dropping Nordmann firs and Norway spruce trees, which are the ones that can drop needles”.

The store also offers shoppers a chance to give back with its Fundraising Forest. With 65 acres planted and six tree varieties, there are options. Visitors can vote with dollars for their favorite.

Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus said this is a worthy project, with the war on terror ongoing, 14 years after 9/11.