Abundance of natural trees this year
by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Dec 20/00) - It is a buyers' market for real Christmas trees this year.
Between them, three Christmas lots in the Frame Lake South area have brought in more trees than usual and, with less than a week to go until the big day, there are plenty of trees to choose from.
Be prepared to shell out between $20 and $120 for a tree, with most decent specimens priced in the $50-$80 range.
"We're probably a little slower this year," said John Best, who runs The Best Little Tree Lot, next to Extra Foods.
"There's a huge amount of trees in town and the weather isn't helping."
Best has sold all his trees 11 of the last 13 Christmases, but after this year that average will drop to 11 for 14.
Right next door to Best is another lot selling trees for $60 and up.
Just down Old Airport Road, tucked in behind Wal-Mart, is the Scouts' Christmas tree lot.
This is the 16th year the Scouts have sold trees, said organizer Beaton Mackenzie. He said the Scouts responded to a request from Norman Wells for trees and ordered about 60 more than they usually do.
Transportation for the trees fell through, though, and that's about all that's about the number left on the lot now.
The Scouts trees are selling for $45-75. For another $5 they will deliver your tree anywhere within city limits. Delivery can also be arranged at the other city tree lots.
A tip from Best, a forester by training: the key to making your tree last as long as possible once you get it home is "water, water, water -- once you let it dry out it's gone."
And don't think that because the pine needles aren't dropping all around it that your tree doesn't need any water. Pine trees, unlike spruce and fir, don't shed needles when they dry out.
