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Cool Idea: Tree Stump Relief Printing
For good reason, environmentalists are up in arms over rain forests being bulldozed for their timber value, one of the earth's greatest biological treasures left carved down to sad little stumps. If I were to play devil's advocate, I'd call up Bryan Nash Gill, who has translated a dismal tree stump into something beautiful. Through relief printing and a laborious rubbing technique, Bryan created the print Hemlock 82 ($4,000), essentially a manual Xerox of the gorgeous growth rings of one section of a tree.
Name This Tree
This tree may be losing its leaves, but its pear-like pods look bountiful indeed. The pods are actually tough husks that contain a seed. The seed of this tree is considered good luck, and if it's ground and leached thoroughly, it then has medicinal properties.
Midday Muse: Happy Valentine's Day
Whether you're a Valentine's Day curmudgeon or a full-blown romantic, I think you can agree that this is one pretty picture. So, at the risk of you telling me to hush my mouth, I wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day!
Photo courtesy of Kakadu
How To: Recycle Your Tree
Now that the holidays are over, your Christmas tree may be dropping needles like crazy. But don’t throw your natural tree away! Take a look at my tips on what to do with your tree after the holidays:
- Mulch it!
How To: Keep Your Tree Looking Its Best
To keep your tree looking its best (and to limit the amount of time you spend hand vacuuming up needles), make sure that it has plenty of water. Maintaining a steady water supply will prevent the needles from drying out and dropping off. It will also help to keep the boughs from drooping (and potentially causing ornaments to fall off).
How To: Make Your Tree Stand and Deliver
If you've struggled with getting your tree perfectly situated in its stand, then take a look at my list of tips for getting the perfect tree stand fit. (And this way you won't have to worry about your tree toppling over in the middle of the night!)
- Just before putting your tree in the stand, cut off a disk of wood from the base of the trunk about 0.5 to 1 inch thick to make sure that the tree has a fresh cut for absorbing water. Alternately, have the tree lot salesperson do this just before leaving.
How To: Get Your Tree Home
Lately I've been seeing trees precariously tied to the tops of cars — I even saw one slide off the top of a station wagon over the weekend! To ensure that transporting your tree is safe for you, your special tree, and for everyone else in the vicinity, please check out my tips for getting your tree home for the holidays.
To see my tips, just read more
Casa Verde: Save the Christmas Trees!
A recent This Old House article discussed the virtues of live Christmas trees. One family in the article brings in a live tree to trim indoors, and after the holiday is over, they plant the tree on their three-acre property. "You can look at it every year and think, remember when we did that?"
Deck the Haus: Urban Outfitters Charlie Brown Tree
I've had a love/hate relationship with Charlie Brown ever since I was a kid. In fact, if truth be told, I probably relate more to Lucy and her football than Chuck and his constant anxieties. Still, I can't resist this Charlie Brown Christmas tree $24.
Tips on Selecting the Best Tree
I love looking for a Christmas tree. There's always such anticipation as I head down the fir-filled rows of wrapped trees at the tree lot. But don't let a sentimental attachment to a particular tree get the best of you.
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