Any advice on a good place to buy a Christmas Tree in the GE area this year? Since we won't be with my side of the family for Christmas this year, for the 1st time ever, we thought we'd buy a tree on Thanksgiving (while they're here for Turkey Day) and decorate it together. We'll be in NC this year with my inlaws. Any insider information on a good spot to buy a tree, that isn't too far from downtown GE?

I am a realist when it comes to trees...find a decent one at a decent px at Home Depot.....because you'll be throwing it in the garbage in a few weeks.

Or you can go to Marmion and cut one down.

Otherwise, there are a billion nurseries that will sell you a tree at 2-3 times what you would pay at Menards...Hacker's, Wheaton Nursery, Schwarz....all will be willing to take your dough. Not certain you'll feel 2-3 times happier with the tree....or more in the holiday spirit.

Buying a fresh tree on Thanksgiving is a little dicey, isn't it? It won't last until Christmas, probably. But for what it's worth, we always get ours from the YMCA (although the last couple of years it seems that their stock has been greatly reduced).

OR, you can head over to the YMCA on Lambert just north of Roosevelt and buy one from their lot. Staffed by (handsome) volunteers and all the proceeds go to the YMCA to help pay for / defray program costs for kids/families who otherwise couldn't afford them.

FYI, the YMCA lot will not be open on Thanksgiving day.

People like Clam make kids cry.

FLAMER!!!

I did that sale a couple of times. Got sucked in from Indian Guides. I assume that's your involvement?

The fake ones look so real now. Just buy a prelit one and spray the house with pine spray and light pine candles. It is safer and easier. I would not buy a real tree this early! NC has a better supply of real trees than we do.

We frequently buy our Christmas tree at Cosley Zoo, which sells them as a fundraiser. I'm not sure when they start selling trees this year. Their web site lists both Friday and Sunday as the first day of tree sales.

Thanks everyone! If we don't get out to buy one on Thursday, then we'll go the YMCA route. I don't mind paying extra when I know that "extra" is going to a good cause.

Since we won't be here for Chirstmas (but the house alarm will be, including the pressure mats and motion detectors, CLAM!), the tree will be down before Christmas. I'll have to see what the wife wants to do. I'm just along for the ride, no pun intended...

If you happen to have holdings in the Home Depot, then buying a tree there helps your own bottom line.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree....What the heck do I do with you now???

Edit: Nevermind, the wife just told me the 1st three Mondays of Jan = free curbside pickup from GE!

Throw it out on the curb or...do as I do....and haul it over to the Willowbrook Wildlife place. They use them in various ways. Either as shelter, they mulch them, or they set them out on the frozen lake for the fish to enjoy in the spring.

Do they sink?!

Yes. They become reefs.

I thought Pine floats, Do you leave the ornaments on?