Do You Prefer Real or Artificial Greenery for Christmas?

As a single person living alone, most years, I don't have a tree. And would have no reason to use a synthetic tree. Although Northern California has extensive conifer forests, unlike in some Eastern USA states, one cannot just go out and cut down trees. If the Tahoe snow ski season starts within the next couple weeks and I drive up there, will get one of the below permits. If so will cut a really short young tree, likely a white fir, no more than 3 feet tall. Trees even short ones, in our region tend to be quite expensive versus the era I grew up during. Will post a photo if so.

Eldorado National Forest Christmas Tree Permit in California ...
To cut a Christmas tree in the Eldorado National Forest, you must purchase a permit, which costs $10 plus a $2.50 processing fee, either online at Recreation.gov or in-person at a ranger district office. You must also carry a copy of your permit and a map of designated cutting areas, follow specific rules such as cutting within 10 feet of another green tree and leaving a stump of 6 inches or less, and ensure you have the necessary equipment and supplies for winter conditions. Cutting is not allowed in certain areas, such as the Crozier, Mosquito, Caldor, or King Fire areas.
Permit and regulations

Cost: Permits cost $10 per tree, plus a $2.50 processing fee.
Limit: One tree per household is allowed.
Where to purchase:
Online: Through Recreation.gov.
In-person: A limited number of permits may be available at the Placerville, Amador, and Georgetown Ranger District offices.

Cutting rules

Areas: Cutting is only permitted in specific, designated areas. Certain areas like the Crozier, Mosquito, Caldor, and King Fire areas are excluded.
Tree selection:
Do not cut trees greater than 20 feet in height.
To help with forest health, cut trees that are within 10 feet of another green tree and avoid cutting single, isolated trees.
Cutting technique:
Cut the tree as close to the ground as possible, leaving a stump of 6 inches or less.
Remove all remaining green branches from the stump and scatter discarded branches away from roads and culverts.
Topping is not permitted.
 

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I prefer real greenery. However, my late MIL claimed that she was allergic to real greenery, so we had to buy an artificial tree and other artificial stuff.

Eventually I discovered pre-lit trees and bought one. It was great. I 100% hate putting lights on a tree. I discovered kids -- and began using artificial greenery on banisters and mantels.* I discovered dogs who actually peed on their owner's real trees, and that did it for me, since I prefer male dogs. This is because getting spayed is a lot more horrible than getting neutered.

* This is because of a potential disposal problem. We had a very large back yard, and in the fall it filled with leaves (mostly oak,, mores the pity). The boys were 3 years old. They watched the yard man rake up all the leaves and decided he was planning to steal them. Not on their watch! I stepped into the den and nearly all of those leaves were piled on the carpet! The boys had brought them in through the slider.

I did not get mad because (a) they were 3!, and (b) that was a pretty creative idea. But I got even by using artificial greenery so it would not happen again at Christmas. Note that the art of parenting is all wrapped up in being able to predict what a passel of kids is going to do next so you can prevent it. But, even when you do that, they think up something else that is horrendous to their alleged mother.
 
I prefer real.

When I was a kid we always had a tree from my grandmotherā€™s or from my great auntā€™s farm. It was actually good to thin things out and trim some of the other trees for enough greens to make wreaths and swags.

When I started out on my own, trees were not terribly expensive and I continued the tradition.

I remember one year when things were particularly hectic at work, my real tree stayed up until St. Patrickā€™s day!

I asked a young man that lived down the hall from me to help me take it out. I went to get the broom and dustpan and when I came back the tree was gone and the living room window was wide open!

These days I donā€™t put up a tree and would be reluctant to spend $50-$100 on a disposable tree, much better to buy a warm coat, groceries, or a toy for a kid.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I don't put up a tree anymore, but all the years we did, it was artificial, just for convenience sake. I remember my wife burning scented candles or Potpourri during the Christmas season.
Click to expand...
I have always been a huge fan of balsam cedar incense sticks. My two daughters now love them, too. I've had the same little log cabin incense burner for nearly 30 years now:

log cabin jpeg.jpg
 
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I am firmly in the real tree camp, although now that I am in a small apartment there is no room for a tree at all.

Growing up, we always had a fake tree with a matching set of ornaments. It was so sterile and genericā€”I hated it. When I was married, from Day 1 we had a real tree. Our towns always recycled them.

After the divorce, the kids and I used an artificial tree (it was just physically easier), but we always had a mish-mash of unique ornaments, like most people do: ones from vacations we had taken, ones the kids had created at school, etc. One of my best memories, if not the best, is trimming the tree each year with the kids and exclaiming over them as we unwrapped each one to put it on the tree.

I've noticed that today's artificial trees look a lot more realistic than the one we had growing up.
 
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I had a real tree for 85 years. We liked the Frasier Fir. I think it came from NC. This will be my third yeasr with an ar6tificial, prelit tree. It weighs practically nothing, looks pretty good, doesn't cost a fortune and I can handle it myself.. I miss all the extra greenery they would throw in when they trimmed the trunk. I no longer bother with most of the ornaments I once considered so important.
 
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