🌿🎄🌿 Holiday Season Walkabout! 12.01.2021 || Linda Vater
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Wreathes are up and pansies are watered. Let’s do a walkabout and check on things! WAYS TO FIND LINDA SHOP QVC: https://qvc.co/3zsj4MH The …
I grew up loving real trees and the smell they brought into the house. But around 1990, when I bought a 9' tree to put in my 16' foyer, I started to wheeze and stopped when it left. I already knew that touching evergreens in my front yard had started to cause my hands to become red and itchy, but the Christmas trees didn't. I saw my allergist right after Christmas and he verified my suspicions. I was now allergic to Christmas trees! I have been told that Fraser Firs do not cause allergies, but I am afraid to try one!
I have a 7 1/2’ pre-lit artificial and a 4’ artificial for my 7 yo twin granddaughters to decorate for me. I miss the smell but have a wonderful scented candle that I burn. All the pre-cut trees make me sad because there are so many left after Christmas. A tree farm where you cut your own is a better idea. 🎄 Alabama
Love the story about your dad, my family is scattered and I miss them terribly. Love a real tree but a pre-lit artificial “Martha Stewart” 7.5’ has been my lifesaver for probably going on 10 years. All the wonderful things we love to do for our families sound really great until Dec 10 when I start to get cranky and overwhelmed. I finally let go of the idea that everything had to be done so spectacularly. For heavens sake, Christmas is a part time job foremost moms/wives and a pretty pre lit tree is just gonna have to be ok 👍🏻
Christmas IS just a series and I absolutely love that! I will remember that forever. My father was a HUGE Christmas person. I mean he put so many lights on our home that we had bus tours of senior citizens driving by and getting off the bus and singing Christmas carols in front of our home. He passed away a few years ago and has left me with the blessing of Christmas traditions and the excitement of Christmas to be carried on. I have an artificial main tree of about 9 feet tall and probably have about 12 artificial trees placed throughout my home in all shapes and sizes. For this reason, I could not wait to have a real tree as it would never last that long but I may try a small real tree next year in addition to the rest of them. In Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving in October and for this reason, we decorate and get started mid November. I start early as I find I put so much work and effort into my home that I really want to enjoy it for a long period of time. Also, we are sad when we take down our decorations because we really, really love them! My husband and I look so forward to it every year. We take two weeks off of work and love sitting with the beautiful lights lit as it adds such a cozy feeling to our home. I feel very blessed to have such strong and rich family traditions; both religious and non religious passed on. It is the most wonderful time of the year and feel very grateful that I have beautiful memories passed on to me and I hope I can pass along those traditions to my loved ones and future generations. We are in Canada, zone 4b. Now that my home is all decorated; I start on my Christmas baking 🙂 Happy Holidays to everyone and I wish for everyone to start add at least one new small tradition each year. It really is a beautiful legacy to pass along. 🇨🇦 🎄🎄🎄
Had to laugh. My real, fragrant Frasier tree seems to get smaller and smaller. At 70, given another 10 years I'll have a branch decorated. I do love your yards. Isn't it so exciting to have self seeders! Happy Holidays!
We have 7 cats so I display bunches of small faux trees where they can’t get to them!! I just cut some pine branches and cypress and made a display in a rectangular planter next to my front door. I added pinecones and branches I spray painted white.
This year on tree – No snowmen, santas, other English/American winter stuff ornaments !! I live down under – it's not England haha – this year it's blues and pink, and Kiwiana decs :):) My parents – passed away long time ago – were both English so we had the big traditional English Xmas lunch on a the baking hot day LOL Not for me – get me to the beach !
small fake tree now ..kids grown and gone …no real trees anymore 🙂 I only put it up for my hubs and maybe the grown kids when thwy come xmas day …otherwise i wouldn't bother . Its summer time where I live – if it was cold and snowy – yes different – but nah – Xmas is over rated – I would just ignore it if I was on my own…I'm a xmas grinch lol
I put up three artificial trees that are themed and full of bling. The one year we tried a real tree, my husband couldn’t stay in the same room. We didn’t realize he was allergic. We have to wear long sleeves and gloves to fluff the trees or we both break out.
I put up an artificial tree due to the cost! I gave up on a real tree due to the last one I had fell and broke hundreds of dollars of my vintage collectible ornaments I had on it , plus I couldn’t keep up the watering and the tree still drying out due to the heater. Last, I couldn’t handle dropped needles. Artificial plastic needles drop ,too, but my first did after 7 years of use, I bought a second artificial last year, however, I buy tiny little live pine trees for the smell then donate to my garden club.
Cracking me up again with the love hate squirrels stories. Soooo funny. 🌸🙏🌸
Hi Linda! Wendy from Fiddletown, CA here. We use a 6' flocked synthetic tree. It is slender and has warm white lights, and looks beautiful in my red wagon to add a bit of height. Since we live in the woods, we have all the fresh greenery we could want, and I hate the idea of cutting down a live tree for just a couple of weeks of use. Plus we heat our home with a wood stove, which can desicate a cut tree very quickly. We would sure love a white Christmas this year!! Sending light and love, and best wishes to all <3
I always do a fake tree i love being able to have it up for so long. Im also afraid of bringing in bugs and not really a fan of the upkeep of a real tree.
Weather here in the AZ low desert zone 9b has been unusually warm also. My butterfly garden planted just for the monarch butterflies has seen a lot of activity starting in Oct. and the butterflies are still hatching from their Crystalis. Have no idea if this is a normal time for them here.
In the last 2 or 3 years I had to buy an artificial tree. My health prevents me from handling a live tree. I miss the real tree but I did buy a beautiful artificial tree that will be up for its second time. It is pre lit with LED lights that are so beautiful. Time changes things and we just have to go with it!
While the kids were home we always had a fresh tree. Then we went the artificial route for convenience, with lights. Now that we are elderly, we are planning on a table top tree. Our daughter is moving back to Calgary and will take the large tree for her family. I do miss the pine scent from real trees. It snowed here yesterday, winter has arrived!
It’s a bit of a challenge at my house as my husband and I have very different views as to the perfect tree. Mine is very simple and his is touching the ceiling with every ornament we’ve ever owned on it.
Living in a condo, we aren't allowed to have real tree's but I have been known to sneak one in on occasion through our patio door (ground floor) I miss them a lot! But we usually bring in lots of real greenery for the scent. I'm not asking them if that is allowed or not, lol.
I put up an artificial because of allergies and also convince. I have a pre-lit that I keep in a bag. Saves hours and hours of time and frustration. Plus, no fire hazard here. FYI, no card from me. Maybe a drive by and a honk. My Pansies are doing well. Keep the nog ready. 🌲
I like the real tree because smells so good, but after 19 years, I going to have a nice artificial one this year cause I don’t want to mess with the lights and watering this month 😁🥵😱😂
We put up a fake tree for convenience. I usually do it by myself, so going forward a live tree is too taxing and time consuming for me. I do miss the wonderful aroma of a real tree. I console myself with our backyard pine tree. I put oversized ornaments on that.
Here in Mobile Alabama (zone8)
It is just beautiful 🤩 we have actually had a fall!!!, it has been unusually warm in the afternoon and we could really use some rain ☔️
Also I use an artificial Christmas tree because I like to decorate indoors very early as to not overwhelm myself by trying to decorate everything at once…. Also I paid $150 8 years ago and it’s still beautiful 💕
As always thank you for all you and Stewart do🎉🏆🎉
I have gotten artificial trees from my friends.! they purchase new ones, and I get their old ones.! I love that they think of me ! I do love to go to the back yard and get my own greens. Linda, you made me cry, I too miss my mom and dad during these holidays! thank you for sharing!
I do both. I do artificial for my porch and real inside! I too love the smell of the real tree!! I love a more simplistic traditional decor on the tree. My outside tree is a woodland theme with birds , owls etc! Happy Holidays🎄
Who is Steward❓
From Blue Mountains NSW – Unfortunately I have gone from a fresh tree to an artificial for 2 reasons. They are so expensive here now and I end up with ants. They don't last long in a summer Christmas. When the kids were little it was always home made decorations but now they are grown up I have collected some beautiful decorations which I source on sale in January! Merry Christmas everyone
There is A Christmas Tree Farm up the road from my house; every year, my son takes me and we get fresh cut real trees…. a 6 ft. and a 7 ft. was total $120…. love them! Our property includes a ravine/greenbelt that we own, so at the end of the season, we toss them down there for squirrels to make nests in…. no storage of fake trees as space is limited.
I love a real tree but this year the prices were so ridiculous. I bought one but I may consider an artificial tree in the future. It was 74 here in Charlotte today…argh 😃
It was fun to see cameos of Hubs today!😊. I do a 9ft artificial tree. It was a pre-lit tree that cost me $350 dollars and after 2 years the whole centre went dark after it was decorated 🤨. So I cut all the lights off and have to string lights the old way but I still love the tree!
Artificial- I have to with fireplace and how long we have it up to enjoy !! Radko traditional with velvets and plaid
Artificial here are where it is so dry in the desert.
Canada here, just bought another artificial, economically from Marshall’s. Downsized from very large one, from when the kids were younger.
I also have 2 now, one also short and chubby. We call it the chubby tree,
Linda I want a Stuart. For Xmas this year will you surprise your viewers who are secretly in love with Stuart doing a Wednesday walk about?
Put wreaths in all your windows…that would make your house spectacular. Love your videos.
Thank you.
Childhood: All real trees. Heresy otherwise. Included many freezing, snowy nights as a kid tromping around in the mud searching for the perfect Christmas, which my Dad always seemed to find.
Adulting: Artficial only. Convenience (up/down when I want, no strings of lights to contend with) and time-saver (less mess to clean up, no time watering).
TY for the shout out – I am a dedicated follower as I just found you a year ago…and I credit you (big time) for getting gardening back into my life at a low point.
I can see and hear the love you still have for your Dad – thank you for sharing that lovely story about him and Christmas meaning…he was so right.
I have an artificial (Martha Stewart ) tree from Home Depot and I love it. I got sick of vacuuming up the needles when I was younger with the kids, and the lights are already on the tree – far more than I would have the patience to put on. I do, however make my own wreath for the door and garland for the mantel as we have tons of branches that fall every year in wind storms – You should see our roof!!😆
When the kids were young, what memories for them to go out and cut down our own tree… now, you better believe plopping up that pre-lit tree that some can't even tell is not real is the way to go! Now, I get to focus on the beautiful ornaments collected over so many years and getting them all in their perfect spot (my tree is magnificent)!
no tree at all. no one here but me.
I put up 3-5 fake trees every year. I live in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) and I have many huge trees around my house including a 50' Douglas fir in my front yard. I want to make sure there are trees for my grandchildren to enjoy generations from now and this is my little contribution to that effort. It's also less expensive to use the same trees every year. The third reason is that I like to put my trees up early and I'm worried fresh trees won't stay that "fresh" as long as I want to have them up. I use Bath and Body Works candles in a fragrance of "Sweet Balsam" or "Fresh Balsam." They smell exactly like the real thing and I can control the intensity.
My family has allergies so we do artificial trees, just finished decorating my 14th tree in our home.
7' artificial tree – slender version. Space availability. Works really well for us.
Hi Linda! I live in zone 8a in Texas. I have three artificial trees indoors and one tomato cage/obelisk that has garland wrapped around it outside, on my front porch. I also have two small trees I take to work at Christmas time.
Linda, thank you for the weekly walkabout. Things you mentioned in your front yard walk that resonated with me – gardening is about looking forward to the next season and also embracing the present moment, even when it’s messy and ready for a rest. 🙏💚 We’ve been doing an artificial tree for several years…..we had a real one our first year married which toppled over, smashed ornaments and soaked our floors. My husband said he’d never do a real one again! 🤣
For the last two years, I’ve put up an artificial tree. My allergies got bad enough with a real tree that it wasn’t an option. But on the bright side I do not have to deal with water and dropping needles. I do miss the scent of a pine tree so I use a pine essential oil in my diffuser.
With the rising cost of real trees we switched to an artificial one and like you we are putting less ornaments on them; we are elderly and trying to make life easier.
My main tree is real, all others in my house are artificial…this year there are 15 trees inside
Hi Linda! I hope that you show us when you bonsai up those jades!😍
I am a little worried because we had a few days it was in the 50s and 30s at night but now my daffodils are already peeping up out of the soil and our oldest weather is about 20Dec to end of Feb. I wonder if it will kill them to come up early?