With Christmas in the air some of you may be looking at investing in a tree to make that air ‘pine-scented’. It doesn’t have to be a ‘traditional’ tree with many options available to the antipodean apart from the usual evergreen conifer such as a pine or fir tree. You may even like to grow your own!
The idea of a Christmas tree indoors harks back to Germany in the 16th Century where trees were decorated with dried fruits, nuts and gifts bought at the Christmas fairs. Some evidence suggests that even back as far as the 7th Century a fir tree branch was hung indoors in winter to embody ‘life’ against the cold drudgery of winter. Trees have had special meaning for mankind since ancient times and it remains so today.
In Australia we tend to lean invariably towards a European look; the most common substitution is the Radiata Pine Pinus radiata, a widely used wind barrier on farms and commercial softwood plantations –often cut purposely for the Christmas tree industry. If using a cut tree remember that they tend to absorb more water in the first week or so after being cut. Radiata’s are easy to grow yourself from cheap seedlings –again some forward planning is required, but not difficult and you can simply line up the trees in your backyard for the years ahead.
