It's early, we know. But inspiration proceeds action, so we thought we'd put these out there in case you're considering a less-than-perfect Christmas tree for holiday decor this year. We think these meager trees can be charming in their imperfection.
What do you think? Are you more of a Clark W. Griswald, searching through cold and distance for the perfect tree. Or do you prefer to adopt a sad misfit tree (like these) that no one else is likely to want?
Images: 1: Tine K via Space for Inspiration, 2: Chez Freddie, 3: Christmas and Traditions
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If you wait until the night of Christmas Eve, you can often get freebee trees from the local treelots...
...they won't be perfect - But who cares when they're free?
Aw...a Charlie Brown tree. These trees are more endearing than the spectacularly decorated trees (although beautiful). I can relate more to the runt trees.
The third one is pretty crazy...I like it!
I like them.
I've always had a soft spot for Charlie Brown trees, and even seek them out. But that third photo? That doesn't even look like a tree! (Gotta love the ostrich eggs by the fireplace, though.)
I did the Charlie Brown tree in college when I was broke. I admit that even though I can now afford a real tree, I always have a little Charlie Brown tree too. They're so cute and ugly!
bepsf - that is me & my sister's tradition
Aww, I really like all of these trees. They have a unique look to them..especially that third photo.
Awww, I feel so sorry for all these trees, especially the first one. The poor thing should never have been cut down.
No such thing. Christmas trees are beutiful no matter what.
I once picked up a sad scraggly little 4' tree laying in the gutter still attached to the street pole it was originally tied to while waiting to be sold. It was one of the last ones left and obviously unwanted. My boyfriend and I were going through a difficult time economically and at the time a tree seemed like an extravagance. Two nights before Christmas I surprised him on my way home with this little waif of a tree and told him it looked like it needed a good home. I paid $5 for it. We set it up, watered it, decorated it and that little tree came back to life and actually seemed happy to be with us. We didn't have much that year, but we did have a little tree that filled us with hope and joy. Isn't that what Christmas is about?
Gosh, rr90027, I didn't expect to come to AT to get teary-eyed, but I did after reading your little story. Very sweet.
The third one is hideous.
I wanted a super duper skinny, exaggerated skinny, tall tree last year and couldn't find one anywhere and didn't want to pay full price and then trim it. We settled on a super short fat one instead.
This year I was thinking of buying a large plant/tree to plant in my yard in the spring, but using it as an unconventional xmas tree through Dec and then letting it live on our patio until time for planting. Maybe even a dwarf blue spruce. With our funds it makes more sense for me to do this, then I don't feel bad for spending money I don't have for a tree in spring or a tree that will be discarded after only a month.
One of my favorite things is to find a sad little potted tree at a store (they never manage to take care of them and don't really care if they die, so long as it's after Christmas) and bring it home and nurse it back to health. I have a beautiful Norfolk pine that is now a quite nice Christmas tree every year, as well as a lovely houseplant :)
"I have a beautiful Norfolk pine that is now a quite nice Christmas tree every year, as well as a lovely houseplant :)"
You bring up a good point - live trees are good alternatives to a cut tree since with a little care they can be reused every year and/or planted in the garden.
I always hack up my tree to make more room for ornaments and lights. It always ends up looking somewhat Grinch-y. My mom always has the best trees though. Last year, there was a tree in her yard that was not that pretty and in a really awkward spot towards the curb. She had been intending to cut it down, so she waited until Christmas time to do so.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24920452@N07/3145860749/
I think it may fit under the category of "pretty ugly". I really loved it.
In re: live trees, I hope that anyone considering buying a potted tree reads up on this before picking one up. A dormant tree must be introduced to the indoors gradually, cared for diligently and kept away from heat vents and hot windows and then taken back outside after only a few days and planted in the hole you should have already dug before the ground froze (if you live in colder climates). Otherwise, it won't make it and you should have just bought a cut tree. Very few of the live trees people buy survive the season.
Please remember that Christmas trees are a crop. They are grown on a tree farm to be cut down and are not harvested from forests.