Chrsitmas Tree DOA

Kadee Christmas Tree Farm
Family Tradition Killed by Texas Drought of 2011

Virginia Pine is dead!
Long live Douglas Fir!

On my way home from business in El Dorado, Arkansas, I skipped off of highway I-30 in East Texas to reconnoiter the traditional Suneson Family Christmas Tree Farm.  For 20 years we have been cutting our own tree and driving the 60 miles back home after stopping for an early dinner at a Texas barbecue joint on the way.  It has always been the way Christmas starts for us here in Texas; fresh-cut pine scent and the lingering taste of righteous barbecue meats.  Sadly, not this year.

2011 was the most severe drought in locally recorded history (surpassing 1917) and the second hottest year known to the Lone Star State, leaving in its wake of dust many unfortunate consequences for many Texans and for many reasons.  One of the unfortunate outcomes for us was the end - or perhaps just a hiatus, of the valued family Christmas Tree tradition.  The drought extracted a heavy toll from the Christmas tree farmers as was reported in the local news following Thanksgiving, with many of the Virginia Pines not surviving. Though the cut-your-own tree farms were mostly open for business this December.  I stopped at our traditional Kadee Farms location to see for myself, and saw an estimated 60% of the trees dead.  Most of the timber in the 6-7 foot range, which is the size we usually cut and take home.  I spoke with the Mr. Kadee himself, and he was now going to install a drip irrigation system, but I could not get him give me a price incentive to bring the family out to select and cut our tree this year.

With Inga just home on Wed. and Grant flying in from St. Louis that Friday evening, and Sue very busy with Advent Season and running a multitude of programs at Church, getting out to Kadee Farms before dark  and before Christmas just seemed too difficult this time around.  The family decided to nix the tree trip before St. Nick's.

Reduced expectations and time management brought the family to Home Depot to look over their selection of trees.  The nearest Home Depot had just a few remaining "Charlie Brown" trees, so they went across town where they found a store with a good inventory and selected a 6' Douglas Fir.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here after all!