Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2006
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/christmas.html

We've Undressed Our Trees!
November/December 2006
Sallie Strole, Johnson's East Store

    It's always gratifying to hear customer's compliments about our
decorated Christmas trees, some even to the point of asking who our
designers are! The same abundance of ornaments, ribbons and floral picks
that make the trees so beautiful can leave them all dressed up with no
place to go, since you can't see what the tree itself looks like.

Johnson's Forest of Undecorated Artificial Trees
    This year, in an attempt to make shopping for an artificial tree a
little easier, we've decorated mostly display trees in the stores and
set up our new trees without all the trimmings in the greenhouses. That
way you can more accurately compare trees to choose one that will work
best for you.

"Hybrid" Christmas Trees
    Artificial trees, or to be more politically correct "permanent"
trees, have improved dramatically in appearance. The newest trend is a
hybrid tree with inner "needles" of polyethylene, the material of the
silk plants, and outer tips of molded plastic. This gives the trees a
much more natural appearance while not being as costly as a fully molded
plastic tree would be. Some varieties of these new hybrids include:

    - Evergreen--a traditionally shaped full tree with cones
    - Star Fir--an open layered look
    - Muskoka--a more informal rustic feel
    - Natural Fraser--a dense tree with shorter "needles"

    We still carry several conventional "silk" trees as well as a
selection of slim line and alpine style trees.

Prelit & Hinged
    Continuing the direction of the past several years, all our trees
are prelit, but this year we do have more styles with multi-color lights
as opposed to just clear. And most of our trees are made by Barcana and
Santa's Own, two of the premier companies making permanent Christmas
trees. Barcana trees are guaranteed for 25 years with three seasons on
the lights; Santa's Own carries a 15 year warranty on trees and three
years on lights.

    These trees are all hinged so they fold up for easy storage back in
their box or into a canvas storage bag. Some trees come with the
optional bag or we do carry tree storage bags you can purchase. If you
have a closet or storage room where the tree can be left up that is
probably even better. All our trees also come with stands, and judging
from the number of people who ask, we're just guessing there are trees
out there which don't.

    Whatever your motivation in looking for a permanent tree, be it
allergies, economics or cleanliness, Johnson's has the best selection of
quality trees in town. So take a stroll through our indoor forest and
tag a Christmas tree to take home and enjoy for years to come.