Christmas Holiday Contest

They are good for people with allergies for real trees.
You can purchase trees that are already decorated.
They don’t loose their needles all over your floors.
You don’t have to water them and they require little if any maintenance.
The down side to an artificial tree is that they are not biodegradable so when they are eventually thrown out they pollute our landfill sites.
They are manufactured from PVC, plastic and metal - i.e. environmentally damaging and non-renewable resources;
You have to have room to store them after the holiday season.

Real Christmas Trees

Harley Davidson Men's Soaring Eagle 76A12

About thirty-five million real Christmas Trees are sold in the United States every year. A real Christmas Tree is a Christmas tradition and contributes to making Christmas a real and meaningful experience for many families. Some people use artificial trees, thinking they are saving our forests. The truth is, however, that almost all Christmas Trees are grown on Christmas Tree farms, not in the forest. Thanks to the annual demand for Christmas trees, thousands of acres of otherwise unfarmed land is being farmed with Christmas Trees. Indeed, Christmas Tree farms are most often located on land which could not be used to grow other farm products (these farms are on barren slopes or under power lines). In addition, for each tree harvested, about ten others are being grown on farms to prepare for the next ten harvest seasons.

Real Christmas trees have positive effects on the environment:

They produce oxygen and rid the air of carbon dioxide, thereby reducing the earth-warming greenhouse effect;
They improve soil stability;
They provide an aesthetically pleasing improvement to the land and bring value to portions of land which could not be used to grow other crops;
They serve as wildlife habitat;
They are naturally biodegradable and many towns collect trees after Christmas and convert them to mulch. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree produces 3 tons of mulch annually;
They are a renewable resource.

Real Christmas trees are grown at home and have a positive effect on local employment and the economy. Your local Christmas Tree farmer buys his supplies locally and hires seasonal help locally.

Many people wrongly believe that a Christmas tree can be the cause of a fire. This is not true. A Christmas tree that is well cared for will remain fresh and will not catch fire unless a strong flame supported by inflamable material is placed under the tree.

In fact, there have been reports of house fires where the house burned completely, but the real Christmas tree in the house did not even catch fire. Beware of fake trees because they do catch fire and, when they do, they give off dangerous toxic fumes.

A real Christmas Tree that is watered and kept fresh won't shed needles. If you keep your real Christmas Tree watered, you will find that it will last two months or more in your home and it will shed very few needles.

Enjoy the family of tradition of choosing and cutting your own real Christmas tree this year!

Real Tree Varieties
	The Fraser Fir The Fraser Fir may be the ultimate holiday tree. It has attractive 1" needles that are silvery-green and soft to the touch. Plenty of space between the branches makes a Fraser easy to decorate. Firm branches hold heavier ornaments. Tree shapes are often perfect and the Fraser is known for excellent needle retention as long as kept properly watered.
	The Noble Fir Another popular and beautiful tree, the Noble Fir is deep green in color and has unusually lovely branch shape. You'll often find boughs made into fresh wreaths. Its branches are sturdy yet the needles are not too sharp to decorate easily. Like the Fraser Fir, the Noble generally offers adequate spacing between branches, making it easy to hang ornaments.
	The Blue Spruce These trees have a nice pyramidal shape held by strong limbs. They are easy to decorate due nicely spaced branches with enough strength to hold heavier ornaments. The Blue Spruce is known for its lovely blue foliage which can also appear silvery. You'll need to decide if this bluish tinge fits into your decorating scheme.
	The Grand Fir The Grand Fir is a pretty tree that's becoming more popular. It has a glossy dark green color with needles that are 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. The Grand Fir is soft to the touch. If you have heavy ornaments to hang, be sure to check each tree to find one with branches firm enough for your decorations.
	Balsam Fir Another lovely tree, the Balsam has beautiful color. Although the branches can sometimes be too flexible to hold up weighty ornaments, The National Christmas Tree Association notes that, "As a Christmas tree, balsam fir has several desirable properties. It has a dark-green appearance, long-lasting needles, and attractive form. It also retains its pleasing fragrance."
	Concolor Fir (White Fir) The National Christmas Tree Association notes that "Needles are usually 1/2 to 1 1/2 inch long, pointed or notched at the tip, bluish-green when young turning dull green with age.... As a Christmas tree, white fir has good foliage color, a pleasing natural shape and aroma, and good needle retention."
	White Pine Long feathery soft needles make the White Pine especially desirable for use in garlands, wreaths, and centerpieces. Though it is a beautiful tree, branches can be a bit too flexible to support heavier decorations, and its lush fullness can mean there is little space to hang ornaments. The White Pine can be long lasting since needle retention is rated as "good to excellent".
	Douglas Fir Douglas Fir is beautiful Christmas tree with soft shiny green needles. It may be difficult to decorate if the branches have been sheared into a perfect conical shape, leaving too little space between branches to hang decorations. If in doubt, take an unbreakable ornament with you when you buy a tree. Choose a Douglas Fir that is freshly cut and keep it well watered.
	Scotch Pine Decorating a Scotch Pine is a challenge as its needles can be sharp as pins. You'll want to wear gloves! Also, due to heavy shearing, there may be little space between branches for ornaments. The Nat'l Christmas Tree Association notes "the Scotch pine is known for its excellent needle retention and good keepability. It resists drying and if permitted to become dry does not drop its needles."
	Norway Spruce The Norway Spruce may be just right for those of you who like to get their Christmas tree just a week or so before December 25th. The National Christmas Tree Association notes that the "overall color of Norway spruce is fair to excellent, but needle retention is considered poor unless the trees are cut fresh and kept properly watered."

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Celebrate the Holidays with GivingGallery's Christmas Contest

Enter GivingGallery's Christmas Contest for a chance to win 1 of 3 holiday-inspired prizes!
To enter, share your best Holiday Recipe, Christmas Decorating Idea or Party Idea

Start a New Christmas Tradition!

Lladro 2005 Christmas Bell Ornament Cantata!

The Lladro 2005 Christmas Bell Cantata Ornament is a great gift idea to commemorate the passing year and will offer wonderful memories for years to come. The Lladro collection of Christmas tree ornaments in classic designs are always a perfect way to begin a new family tradition. The elegant design and soft pearl background will blend with almost any Christmas decorating theme. Celebrate the holidays this season with the Lladro 2005 Christmas Bell Ornament Cantana.

Perfect For Holiday Entertaining!

Nigella Lawson's Living Kitchen Entertainment Set!

Nigella Lawson's new set of bowls with matching platter offer great versatility for dips, snacks and starters. Nigella Lawson talks about her new entertainment set. "I never do appetizers now - just a hearty supper with good things to pick at over drinks first. This set allows you to offer peanuts, potato chips, olives, cubes of marinaded cheese and whatever you desire, and the bowl-indentations on the platter mean that even if you trip in your kitten heels while serving, you won't tip things over!"

Warm Up Your Christmas!

Back to Basics Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink Maker!

Bring the café experience home this Christmas with the Back to Basics Cocoa Latte Hot Drink Maker. Automatically heat, whip, and mix instant cocoa, coffee, and tea into frothy, cafe-style drinks. The auto shut-off ensures that drinks won't be overheated. The 32-ounce container, with a twist and lock lid and non-stick heating element, is safe and easy to clean. The Back to Basics Cocoa Latte Hot Drink Maker includes 35 delicious hot drink recipes and in brushed chrome, this piece offers a clean look for the kitchen.

Terms and Conditions
No purchase necessary to win. A winner will be chosen from each entry category. Entries must contain your full contact information as requested. Upon the deadline, entries will be randomly chosen. Decisions are final and binding. Entry constitutes permission to have your name and/or submission announced to our mailing list subscribers and also posted here at GivingGallery.com. Winners will be notified within 24 hours of the drawings/judging at the e-mail address provided upon entering the contest. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Any winner notification returned as undeliverable will result in the awarding of that prize to an alternate winner. One entry per household per week. In the case of multiple entries, only the first entry will be accepted. In the event of a dispute over the identity of an online entrant, entry will be deemed submitted by the holder of the e-mail account. All Gift Certificates will be sent via e-mail and winner will be able to redeem online via "claim/certificate code".