The Family Tree Shoppers Seek Ideal Addition To Holidays

The Jorgens family bundled themselves into their minivan Saturday morning and trundled through the South Hill searching for a Christmas tree.

After four stops in an hour and a half, Bruce and Carrie Jorgens decided on a sparsely boughed tree from a lot on 29th Avenue, just west of Southeast Boulevard.

“We like the ones with just a few branches so we can get lights on every branch and we can see all the ornaments,” said Carrie Jorgens.

Lots of other Spokane residents were out and about Saturday, shopping for their blue spruce or grand fir - freshly cut or live.

“I kinda like this one,” said Bruce Jorgens, twirling a 6-foot alpine fir still glazed with some ice.

“You’re the one putting the lights on, honey,” Carrie Jorgens said. But, she couldn’t help plugging another tree. “This one just looks more even to me. But then again, it always looks good once we’re done.”

“Wanna let the kids out?” Bruce asked his wife. Their four children, ages 2 to 8, were fogging up the windows, breath by breath, anticipating the moment when they’d cast their eyes on this year’s tree.

“A Christmas tree!” shrieked 3-year-old Grace.

“Now, let’s see if we can fit it in the car with the kids,” she said.

On the North Side, the Riches were more concerned with finding a tree that’d fit inside their A-frame home near Sunset Hill.

“We’re picky,” said Laurie Riches. “There just aren’t many tall ones to choose from.”

The family called around to different lots in the city, desperately seeking a 12-foot tree. No luck, though. All the lots said the tallest tree available was a 10-footer. So that’s what they bought at Mel’s Nursery.

“Usually we have to go lot to lot, looking for the tallest one,” said 15-year-old Nicole Riches. “This year was easier. Just one stop.”

Workers at lots and nurseries in Spokane said sales have been slow during the day but pick up at night, once spotlights are on the trees.

One woman who was a part of the buying blitz was Karen Korthase. The North Side resident packed her Suburban with three different trees - a 7 1/2-foot artificial tree for her bedroom, a live 3-foot blue spruce and 9-foot fir for her living room. She’s having a craft sale at her Indian Trail home and wanted to trim the house a little early with Victorian and country Christmas decorations.

One of the trees was a potted Colorado blue spruce she’ll set in an old-fashioned sled on her porch. After the holidays, Korthase said she’s going to plant the tree in her front yard to replace the clump birch she lost in the ice storm.

“It’s more work, more cleanup than artificial trees,” she said. “That’s what Christmas is. It’s having a fresh tree.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo Graphic: From cone to Christmas tree

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Tree tips For those who like to kick off their holiday season early, here are a few tips to keeping that Christmas tree green. The number one rule: lots of water. Never allow the base of the tree out of water. It will seal shut, stop absorbing water and dry out. Cut 2 inches from the bottom of the tree base after you buy it. Cut it at an angle so there is more surface to absorb water. If you cut the base straight across, do not place it flat against the bottom of the tree stand where the water goes because that will prevent the tree from absorbing water. Sugar in the water will give the tree nutrients and keep the veins open so it absorbs more water. Turn the Christmas lights off at night. They will dry out the needles and are a fire hazard. Keep the tree near a window and in as cool a place as possible.