Every year since we’ve been here on the NE corner of the Olympic Peninsula, we’ve chosen a living native tree as a Christmas Tree and planted it on our property after the holidays (as if we need more trees). Last year, we chose a Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). We never got around to planting it and it lived in a pot on our deck throughout the summer, so we’re using it again this year. Over the years, we’ve used a Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) which is not a good tree on which to hang ornaments of any weight, several Doug Firs, and several Shore Pines (Pinus contorta).
Last (and this) year’s Douglas Fir TreeThe Daily Bucket is a regular feature of the Backyard Science group. It is a place to note any observations you have made of the world around you. Snails, fish, insects, weather, meteorites, climate, birds and/or flowers. All are worthy additions to the bucket. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located.
Top of Shore pine from 2010Below, we’ll take a tour of our property to see how the trees of Christmases past have fared and talk about using a living tree.