Christmas is in the air. As the Christmas season approaches, we all begin to feel that all too familiar growing sense of goodwill and peace on earth. The sights, scents, extraordinary meals, and nativities invite us all to open our hearts and homes as we gather around the Christmas tree for our cherished celebrations.
The Christmas tree is where we all gather. And for good reason! It is, by far, the largest houseplant we will ever have in our homes. We’ve been bringing Christmas trees into our family rooms for so many years that we sometimes forget how unique it is. Once we decorate that special tree with ornaments, ribbons and sparkles – you just have to step back in awe of the majesty and wonder.
We invite you to visit a Calloway’s or Cornelius Nursery in your neighborhood to experience our Tree Forest. Nothing else is quite like it. The rows and rows of these beautiful objects of nature are simply breathtaking. The air is filled with carols both familiar and new, but that’s not all. The air is saturated with the unmistakable fragrance of Douglas, Fraser, and Noble Fir trees. Christmas is truly in the air at our nurseries!
Has this imagery already kindled the desire to have that unmistakable evergreen fragrance wafting through your own home? Take a stroll with us as we share some of the things you’ll want to keep in mind when selecting your very own Fresh Cut Tree. Because your Christmas tree symbolizes so much, we want to help you make an enlightened decision about the one you choose this year.
Fragrance That Entices the Mind & Spirit
“Smell can instantly trigger an emotional response along with a memory, and our emotional states have a very strong effect on our physical well-being,” says Rachel Herz, a neuroscientist at Brown University who studies the psychological science of smell. This season, fill your home with the scent that brings back the best memories and conjures up your very best feelings. If only we had scratch and sniff screens, you could experience the wonderful bouquet right where you are. Instead, we will do our best to convey what you will experience once you are actually in our Tree Forest. Our Fresh Cut Christmas Trees are going to beguile you with their fragrance; it is a big part of their allure. We know that scents can bring back memories, but don’t stop there. They also play a huge part in our memory-making process. Bring home your favorite tree and create new memories for you and your family. This may be your first year to have a Fresh Cut Christmas Tree – indulge yourself in the scents of the holiday!
🎄Douglas Firs emit a distinctive scent that is more earthy, slightly sweet with citrus like overtones.
🎄Fraser Firs will have a strong, long-lasting pine fragrance.
🎄Noble Firs tend to have an unmatchable milder pine scent.
All the trees you find at Calloway’s and Cornelius are from some of America’s trusted, original family-owned farms including farms from North Carolina all the way to farms in Washington state where they take pride in growing fresh, quality trees. Farm grown is especially important because this assures that more trees stay in our treasured national forests. Selecting a farm-grown tree is a wonderful way for you to play an important role in preserving and protecting our natural resources.
Now for a little background about the distinguished Fir Tree. They are evergreen, coniferous trees that naturally display the traditional pyramid shape that we all associate with Christmas. They stay green all year, have cones, and have needles instead of leaves which help to conserve water. Firs are one of the longest lasting Christmas trees around. With a little love and tender care, fir trees stay fresh longer than pine and spruce trees. Now let’s delve into the qualities of three outstanding types of fir trees.
Douglas Firs
NEW for 2024! We thought we needed to add a robust thick tree with amazing fragrance at a great price point for our customers! If you are new to Fresh Cut Trees, start with a Douglas Fir. Their flat needles are soft to the touch and are bright green in color. Their softness means no more prickles when adding your decorations with this beauty. The needles are a just a bit shorter than you’ll find on a Fraser Fir as well. You’ll both love and appreciate its symmetrical shape along with its bushier, full appearance. It is a good choice for lightweight ornaments.
Fraser Firs
This particular fir grows naturally in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. It’s the rich, cool soil and cold, high-country winters that make this region ideal for growing Fraser Firs. These elegant trees have graceful, blue-green dense color on top and silver on the underneath side of the needle which creates a lovely two-toned effect. The individual needles are soft to the touch and are highly admired for staying in place. And that means fewer needles ending up on your floor. The branches tilt slightly upwards and are strong enough to support your heavier cherished ornaments. Fraser Firs tend to be more slender than Douglas and Noble Firs.
Noble Firs
The rich, vibrant green needles on the Noble Fir grow in a fascinating spiral pattern. Noble Firs retain their needles well too. The branches have to be strong to support their heavy cones, which is so nice for your heavier ornaments. Its branches fan out, helping to create a full, lush backdrop for all your decorations.
At the Store and In Your Home Care
Your tree will continue to absorb water through the base of the trunk. Water keeps it vibrant, soft and all those needles in place. Because a fresh cut helps promote this process, we cut off an inch of the trunk when the tree arrives at our stores. We then place it in a premium water stand that is kept full of water right up to the time you take it home. The stand is included with the purchase so you can continue to keep it watered. You’ll want to check it daily and replenish the water as needed. This is a new habit you’ll need to form so make it easy on yourself and link it to another daily task or leave yourself a visual hint. Setting a reminder on your phone is another easy way to remember to care for your tree. Be kind to yourself and arrange your presents so that you always have a good path to the stand.
With a Fresh Cut Christmas Tree from one of our 29 neighborhood nurseries, you’ll have both the heartwarming nostalgia of holidays past and create memories for the years to come. Experiencing their visual beauty along with their evergreen aroma wafting through your home will remind you of the magic of the holiday season. Bring your family to one of our neighborhood stores and start a tradition of selecting your tree! Your Fresh Cut Tree will be your centerpiece this holiday, but it will create memories that will last a lifetime.
