Netting a Christmas Tree

Our Christmas-tree acquisition had a surprise change of venue this year. For three years now, since we moved to the northwest suburbs, we’ve bought Christmas trees from a temporary lot at the corner of two fairly busy Schaumburg streets. I drive by this intersection fairly often, but such is the power of habit that I didn’t notice that this year the spot is merely a remote section of a parking lot that serves a grocery-anchored retail property. No trees waiting to be jammed in minivans, no afterthoughish wreath material lying around, no John Belushi look-alikes to take your money.

After I made the discovery, I didn’t have to go far to find another place that sells trees. This year, then, we got our Douglas fir at an actual commercial establishment, complete with greenhouse and stacks of firewood. During the warm months it sells various plants meant to survive once you’ve taken them home. In December, it sells already doomed trees.

We got a fairly thick tree, not much of a flat side, but we can live with that. Cost: $40.99, plus tax, only a little more than the price for a tree from Belushi. But we got an additional service that was worth the extra dosh. They had a device that enclosed the tree in plastic netting for easier transport – it looked like a small hoop, and the tree attendant pulled the whole tree through it. The tree then emerged all netted up.

After I got it home, cutting the net off took a few minutes, but it was worth it for ease of cartage. Lilly was the main decorator this year. She’s finally old enough for everything but the lights, the top-branch ornaments, and the star on top. That last one’s going to be my job until either I expire or I’m too feeble to do it.