Trees:

Fresh and Fragrant Michigan Christmas Trees

For many families, a traditional Christmas starts with a real Christmas tree. Real Christmas trees benefit the environment by reducing wind and water erosion, improving water filtration into soil, filtering sediment from rainfall, and absorbing carbon dioxide. And, they smell terrific!

Whether you want the Cut-Your-Own Experience, with a visit to a local Christmas tree farm, or you plan to purchase a fresh tree from a local tree lot or retailer, fresh Michigan Christmas trees add to any holiday celebration.

	How to Select the Perfect Christmas Tree
	How to Care for Your Fresh Michigan Christmas Tree
	Finding a Michigan Christmas Tree Near You
	Michigan Christmas Tree Production & Inspection

Wreaths:

Fresh Christmas trees are the centerpiece of holiday decorations this time of year, but Christmas wreaths and fresh roping add a festive traditional touch.

Did you ever wonder how Christmas roping and wreaths are made?

We did, too, so we visited a local Michigan Christmas tree farm to find out. At Peacock Road Tree Farm in Laingsburg, MI, where their motto is, "plenty of good Christmas trees, and lots of old-fashioned fun," virtually every part of the Christmas tree is used to make beautiful Christmas wreaths and fresh roping.

Fresh Christmas trees are harvested from the many acres of trees planted on the farm. The trees are hauled, by tractor-drawn wagons or pick-up trucks, to the barn near the wreath-making workshop.

Branches are cut from the trees, then trimmed to the perfect size for wreath-making. Several kinds of Christmas trees are used, including Douglas Fir, Blue Spruce and Scotch Pine, to add variety to the greenery.

The cuttings are boxed and carried to the wreath-making workshop. Here, they are sorted, then the wreath makers get down to business. Wire rings are used as the base of the wreath. The rings come in many different sizes from 12 inches to four feet! A 12-inch wire ring will finish as a 24-inch wreath.

	Tree cuttings are connected to the ring using a pedal-operated wreath-making machine. The branches are attached to the wire ring with metal clamp rings, which are pressed in place when the wreath-maker presses the pedal of the machine.

	There is a definite art to wreath-making. The wreath designer chooses the type and size of greenery she feels will make an eye-pleasing combination. Once the tree cuttings are attached to the wire ring, bows and other decorations are added, and the greenery is fluffed to complete the wreath-making process.

	Here is a beautiful, aromatic wreath, all ready for greeting holiday visitors at your front door

Holiday Roping:

Fresh roping, or garland, is traditionally used during the holidays to dress up homes, stair banisters, mantles and fences. In years past, the garland was hand tied, using twine or wire to create yards of roping. At Peacock Road Tree Farm, any tree cuttings that can't be used in the wreath-making process are used to make roping.

	A roping machine is used to feed wire to the machine operator, who artfully adds pieces of greenery. The tree cuttings are woven together with the wire to create 50-foot lengths of roping.

The resulting roping is sure to add a touch of old-fashioned Christmas cheer to any home.