12.11.08
From the issue Oh, Christmas Tree!
The Gift That Grows
We love the Friends of the Urban Forest's living Christmas tree program—but they've sold out their allotment this year. Here's an alternative: Sloat Garden Centers have living Christmas trees; everything from a dwarf Alberta spruce (growing to just eight feet) to a Monterey pine (pictured; and grows up to 90 feet!). Pick out your choice and take it home. Remember: Caring for a living tree is like caring for a pet—it needs some attention (and that means more than just an outfit of ornaments; don't forget the water!). But here's the real beauty of the living Christmas tree: After you've adorned it, adored it, and watched it glitter and glow, you can plant it in your yard or donate it for replanting at a local park or school. Now that's a gift that keeps on giving.
There are 10 Sloat Garden Centers in the Bay Area. Living Christmas tree prices range from $30–$150. Pick up their four-page brochure on taking care of the tree. Contact your local department of parks and recreation or local school to find out about living tree donations.
