Christmas Tree on Wheels, Photo by Kathy Vilim
It’s the Winter Holidays, that Magical Season when we celebrate the wonder and beauty of Nature, the balance of life on earth: between plants & animals, people & trees… It is also a time for reflection, as the days grow shorter & cooler and we spend more time looking out the window at the landscape of our gardens. I reflect that we have taken so much from this planet; isn’t Christmastime a perfect time to give back to wildlife?
So then, why is it that people are celebrating this Season of Life by taking life, by chopping down healthy young trees? Why is this a standard tradition? To me, a tree is a powerful living thing. It gives of itself without complaint all year long. A tree gives us shelter from the rain & summer’s hot sun; it gives food & makes a home for wildlife. So in this Magical Season affirming life, I cannot chop down a tree to decorate. When Christmas Tree Stands start to appear, I have to turn away. I cannot celebrate with the shoppers.
Now, I do love a Christmas tree decorated with ornaments collected over the years. I love to stare into the tree lights and remember all of the other Christmases that have gone before. Yes, I want a Christmas tree, too. So, I have my own tradition: I decorate a Living Tree each year, complete with Roots in a Pot! I usually buy a small tree that lasts 2-3 years. I put it out on the patio after the holidays are over. And in the Spring I re-pot it into a larger pot. Next Christmas the little tree comes in for a second Christmas. This is fun because the tree has grown some and the ornaments all fit differently. This also means the cost of the tree is absorbed over two years
Now, my tradition isn’t for everyone. Maybe you don’t have room to plant large trees. Well, in some areas, the National Forest Service welcomes folks to bring their trees out after the holidays to replant in forest areas that have suffered severe burns from wildfires! Families can put a name tag on the tree, and when children come back to the forest, years later, they can see how much their tree has grown! Wonderful.
Another option for folks who want a Living Tree with roots & soil in a pot, but have nowhere to plant it is to rent a tree (click link for tree rental programs across the states)! Yep, here in So Cal there are a number of places gaining popularity for renting live trees at Christmas! They will come and pick up your tree when your holiday celebrations are over. They say, “Why drag a dead tree into the house?” In Los Angeles, the Living Christmas Company will rent you a tree. And when it becomes too large, they donate it to the Urban Reforestation Project.
Another pretty alternative to evergreen trees is Rosemary. A lot of nursery centers are now trimming rosemary into topiary tree shapes for the holidays. Jesse Elwert of BWG mentioned recently that this is her new tradition: a rosemary Christmas tree. After the holidays are over, almost everyone has room for rosemary in their herb or cutting garden.
I have been travelling this Season, so I don’t have room to set up a big tree this Christmas. This makes me sad, missing my big Pine Tree friends planted over the years. But I still got a new Living Tree anyway: a small pine that fits into the car cupholder! And, you know he is the cutest thing. After the holidays, I plan to plant him in a California State Park where he can grow big, live wild & be a home to wildlife. (When I do, I will let you know where he gets to live.)
This Christmas, as you gaze out across the darkened garden landscape under starry skies, whatever your traditions are for celebrating this Magical Season of Life, I hope you will affirm to be a good steward to the gentle creatures of this earth in the new year.
What is your tradition for celebrating this Holiday Season? We’d love to hear~
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About Kathy Vilim
I too have gone the living tree route.
Just didn’t make sense to chop down a tree for a few weeks and then throw it away. Granted my local nature center chops them up and uses them as mulch on their trails but it just didn’t sit well with me.
Kevin J Railsback recently posted..The Sun Doesn’t Always Shine In Nature But Go Out Anyway
Yay! I agree turning your tree into mulch doesn’t quite make it as an excuse for chopping down the tree for me either.. Tell me, if your living tree in a big pot? Did you keep it outside since last year? Happy Nature Filled Holidays to you~
kathy recently posted..West Coast Monarchs are Over Wintering Happily
I struggle with this as you do. I once thought an artificial tree was the ticket but they most all come from China. Then I justified a living tree by saying they are replanted after they are cut. But, then again the trees are “trucked” to distant locations causing harmful emissions, etc. I like the idea of planting a tree in an area that has been destroyed by a forest fire – but I don’t live there. This year, since the grands are traveling, I will just decorate the mantle with trimming of cedar and pine.
Ann recently posted..Ode to Spidey – Requested Reprint
That sounds lovely.. the smell of cedar is always welcome during the Winter Holidays~ Enjoy!
kathy recently posted..A Time to Be Thankful at the Ocean
I love the idea of getting a live tree and transplanting it in the wild…will have to check it out to see if they have this in NY in my area…
Donna Donabella recently posted..Faint Memories of My Garden
Thanks, Donna, it feels esp rewarding if you can get to see your tree after a couple years of growth.
kathy recently posted..A Time to Be Thankful at the Ocean
Breathtaking! Thank you Kathy, so eloquent. You’re right- trees give and give and give. Hope to visit your cupholder tree in the forest someday. Thank you for sharing the holiday cheer and encouraging others to bend those self-centered, myopic norms. What a pretty life you live!
Thanks so much, Jesse. You are certainly invited to visit my cupholder tree :} Did you ever decorate a tree(s) outdoors? Maybe with popcorn strung with cranberries for the birds? The original use of the Xmas tree was OUTDOORS with LIVING TREES. It would have been wonderful to honor a tree that way, lighting it up in the Forest.
Kathy Vilim recently posted..West Coast Monarchs are Over Wintering Happily
Another great idea. My friend Pam (http://fiftyisthenewforty.com) actually suggested I mention that in a new jessecology post. Now I’ll tribute you too; I did not know that outdoor tree decorating is the roots of our convoluted tradition. And a string of cranberries for the birds!? My cup runneth over.
I always loved having a real tree with the heady smell and when available, brought it in for recycling.
I never really thought about the fact that it was mean to the tree, but I guess as we evolve, we learn more and more. I haven’t had a tree in a couple of years now…while I enjoy it, I don’t get enough visitors to warrant all the effort involved in dragging it home, dragging out the decorations (heck, I’m starting to sound scrooge-like). I was enlightened about two years ago that a living tree was the a “green” way of protecting the environment. I have on my list to buy a potted tree….hopefully a female red cedar to add to my apparent two males. I WANT BERRIES.
Thanks for writing this Kathy…it will make more people think about their choices and I appreciate the link to have a tree planted as a memorial to others. I’ve safely tucked that away in my favorites for future use.
I love your “travel” tree. What a great way to spend a holiday on the road. Happy Holidays!
Loret recently posted..Profile of Darkness
Thanks for commenting, Loret. We all get enlightened about nature at different points in our lives. I have always felt close to trees. I am glad you have on your list to try a potted tree, even if you selfishly just want berries, LOL.
Kathy Vilim recently posted..A Time to Be Thankful at the Ocean
We haven’t had a tree for about 10 years now. It started when we had young kittens who would have destroyed anything we tried to do with a tree, but now I’m of the mind that trees should remain where they are planted. I do go around my neighborhood after the holidays to collect discarded trees and make a big pile of them as shelter for wildlife, so I’m trying to put them to good use at least.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..The Holiday Wildlife Garden
It would be fun to readyour information about the yule log, which is a tradition related to a tree but older than the Xmas tree.
I am making a Buche Noel this year, which is the traditional French Xmas dessert made to look like the ancient yule log.