IT’S ALWAYS BEEN WHITE LIGHTS
We put our Christmas tree up the Friday after Thanksgiving. The lights went on a couple of days later.
The lights are always white...warm white to be exact.
Back in the day, I think all lights were warm white but with the LED lights, you get to choose between warm or cool. Everyone has their preference, but whatever you do, go one way or the other, don’t mix them. Trust me.
Growing up we always had a fresh-cut Christmas tree. I had an uncle nearby with a Christmas tree farm so that decision was pretty easy. Every year we’d go out to his farm to harvest the “perfect” tree. Years later, I’d help at his tree farm, cutting down those “perfect” trees for everyone else. I froze my tail off and got a lot of pine needles down my shirt.
When my wife and I first started dating, she had an artificial Christmas tree. By the time we were married, we were putting up the real thing and we’ve had a real tree in the living room every year since.
Putting up our Christmas tree has always been my responsibility, that, and putting on the lights.
As a teenager working out here at the store, one of the jobs I had was putting lights on the artificial trees sold back then. There was a particular way the lights were supposed to go on, no exceptions and I was held to that arrangement.
I guess I got good at putting lights on trees because I’ve owned that job at our house for as long as I can remember. Be careful what you get good at.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Now that our tree is up and the lights are on, my wife will come in and take care of the rest. She’s really good at that. Like I said, be careful what you get good at.
And that’s the way we do it every year. It’s one of our holiday traditions. We have plenty more, as I’m sure you do too. Traditions are part of what makes the holidays special and we’ve all got a lot of them headed our way in the weeks to come.
Enjoy them!
—Cameron Rees
SEASONAL FAVORITES: CHRISTMAS CACTUS & POINSETTIAS!
Everyone has their favorite seasonal decorations. But one thing is for sure… you can’t go wrong with a Christmas cactus or poinsettia for that holiday WOW factor! Both make for great indoor splashes of color and fresh, living decor, but they also make great gifts! You can get them in our store down here at the garden center.
“THYMELY” ADVICE: christmas tree care
If a fresh-cut Christmas tree is destined for your front room, there are a few things to keep in mind to help
them last as long as possible.
First of all, make sure you are getting a good quality tree. Fresh is the main thing here. Trees that have been sitting in a parking lot for weeks are probably already significantly dried out. We keep our trees under refrigeration until we put them on display to keep them as fresh as we can. And when they do put them on display, they go in a stand with a large water bowl and a fresh cut to the bottom of the trunk so they will stay well hydrated.
Avoid putting trees in front of bright sunny windows. This will dry them out more quickly.
Keep them away from heat registers if at all possible. If that can’t be avoided, close the register to keep the hot air from blowing directly on your new tree.
Before putting the tree up in your stand, it is important that you make a fresh cut to the bottom of the trunk. It won’t be able to draw up water if the bottom is caked with dried sap and dirt. We will always offer to make a fresh cut on the trees we sell.
Store your tree sitting in a bucket of water if it is going to be a while before you put it up. Storing it outside is fine if it’s not getting below freezing, but if temps are dropping below the freezing point at night will freeze up the water in your bucket. An unheated garage works well.
Once you put your tree in your stand, add water, and then keep a close eye on it. It may not draw much at first, but can change quickly. Check it daily and add water as needed. It is important that you never let your water bowl run dry. If you do, and the bottom of your tree’s trunk dries up and cakes back over, it won’t draw water anymore. The only fix when that happens is making a fresh cut to the bottom of the tree again, and that’s not very practical if it’s loaded with decorations.
Enjoy your tree!
holiday gift card special!
Are you a "plant person" or do you need to shop for a "plant person" this holiday season? Or are you looking for a gift that can last from year to year and continue to bring joy? Then we have a deal for you. When you buy $100 in Skinner Garden Store gift cards, you'll receive one $20 gift card free! That's an extra gift for a friend, family member, teacher, neighbor, or anyone who might enjoy picking out something fresh and green to brighten their space! It just makes “cents”!
WINTER PORCH POTS “MAKE IT” EASY!
We’ve got all the makings for a great creation or you can choose one of our Skinner-designed premade winter porch pots! Porch pots are a fun, creative activity and we make it easy by providing all the greens, berries, pinecones, bows, bells, and whistles to make your creation shine through the holidays and into the new year. Or we have plenty of premade options of various sizes ready for a staff member to load into your vehicle. And boom! Instant holiday cheer! This really is decorating made easy!
skinner buck$ WINTER redemption period is underway!
use ‘em or lose ‘em!
The Winter Redemption Period runs from November 25-December 15, 2024! After the 15th, all 2024 buck$ will expire. But fear not! We’ll begin a new year of collecting and saving with NEW Skinner Buck$. As a reminder, there are three redemption periods throughout the year. They take place in summer, fall, and early winter! See details below. It’s a great way to save on purchases.
EVENTS, SALES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Keep scrolling for all the important info and extras you don’t want to miss!
TIME FOR A CHANGE
Now that we are off Daylight Savings and darkness is settling in a little more quickly, we’ll be closing up a little earlier. From now until the end of winter, we’ll be closing at 5 pm, not 6 pm.
