Good places to buy Christmas trees

[tercat.livejournal.com]

Every year my husband and I buy a real tree.  For a while we were going to a place not far from Alewife on Route 2 that sold lovely trees at very reasonable prices.  That tree stand hasn't been around for a couple of years and since then we've been searching for a new place.  I'd love any suggestions for places to buy real trees in the area--Somerville, Medford, Arlington, Concord, etc.  Church or school parking lots, farm stands, etc. are all welcome suggestions.  Thanks!  Oh... and if you know when their sale starts--are they already selling trees or will their sale start this weekend--that would be great.

Comments

[inahandbasket]

Pemberton Farms on mass ave. due south of Davis has their trees up already. I don't recall them being reasonably priced, but they're super convenient.

[brianbeck.livejournal.com]

I have to second this. We get ours there every year. They are more expensive but they are nearby and are a local business.

They trim their trees for you so your tree looks nice and Christmas tree like and you can buy the ones that don't shed. Figure $50-$60 for a 6' leaf dropping free tree and less for a regular one.

[viellen]

I'll also second this. Their trees are pricey, but they're gorgeous. I've bought my trees from them for the past two years.

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

I walked past Pemberton Farms earlier today, and the scent of pine from the trees is heavenly.

[ron_newman]

Try Ricky's Flower Market in Union Square.

[watchamacallit.livejournal.com]

Kids from Somerville public schools sell trees at Foss Park at the corner of McGrath and Broadway (border of East Somerville and Winter Hill). They have a decent selection and proceeds go to after school programs and such for the kids who work the stand.

Just down from Porter Square on Mass Ave. . .

[shana-lyons.livejournal.com]

. . . there's always a lovely tree sale that benefits one of the area preschools. It's at 1803 Mass Ave and they have beautiful fresh trees of all sizes (including small apartment sized ones), garlands and wreathes. I've always found the tress I got from there to be great and the people are super pleasant, too. I'm not sure when the sale starts, but you can see it as you drive/walk by.

Re: Just down from Porter Square on Mass Ave. . .

[allli.livejournal.com]

me as well. good trees, good people, for a charity.

[ron_newman]

Some posts on this subject from past years, which may or may not be helpful this year:

2005
2005, again
2004

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

There's usually a boy-scout troop selling trees where the bike path intersects Mass Ave and Cameron Street, right by the trackless trolley depot and the new "Trolley Square" development. No idea if they're any good, but I do see them every year. Not sure if they're open yet though.

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

we always buy our tree from them (for 7 years now).... not sure if they will set up now that it's officially Trolley Square Park.... Not sure if there will be space. we've always found the selection good and the price reasonable. and we like helping out the scouts.

Scout Trees

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

Yes the tree's are good and I have bought wreaths there also. Regardless, buying from a local business is nice but buy from a Scout troop, School or local charity. It is the right thing to do

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

We usually get ours from Lexington Gardens. (http://www.lexingtongardencenter.com/) A bit outside of the city, but you did mention Concord as a possibility :-)

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

the church by the porter exchange has better prices than pemberton farms.

if you have a car and are just looking for the cheapest option, Home Depot wins.

[ron_newman]

And if you don't have a car -- how do you carry one home?

(This is a sincere question. I've never had a tree, so I don't know.)

Getting it home

[winterhill.livejournal.com]

You get a friend and you walk home with it, or tie it to a red wagon or a taboggon. I've done this (walking with a friend) for several years, from Ricky's in Union Square. I love supporting local businesses and Ricky is really nice. One year, they did tie it to the car I was borrowing, but the whole walking through a light snowstorm with your tree thing is quite pleasant.

[shana-lyons.livejournal.com]

I mean this in the most unsnarky way. . . You put one person on the front of the tree, one on the back, and start walking. It really helps if you're both wearing thick leather gloves and you buy a small tree.

I did see one enterprising person two years ago at the Porter Square tree sale incorporate a skateboard into the mix. He duct taped the bottom end of the tree to the skateboard, grabbed the tree about 2/3 of the way up and just rolled it away down Mass Ave.

[ron_newman]

Thanks. I was trying to imagine someone carrying a tree on the Red Line or the #77 bus...

[elbren]

The house where I lived as an undergrad had a tradition of going to Fanueil Hall to get our non-denominational holiday shrub, and carrying it back on the T and through campus home to Cambridgeport, cheerfully singing carols the whole way (which was pretty amusing given that maybe two of the bunch were even culturally Christian enough to know any of the words).

[summerrose.livejournal.com]

Do any of these places sell table-top sized trees?

[shana-lyons.livejournal.com]

Yes, the one by Porter definitely does. My last tree from there was about 3 feet tall. It was a bit Charlie Brown, but really cute.

[tt02144.livejournal.com]

I'd like to second the suggestion to purchase your tree (or wreath) from the Full Circle stand at Foss Park. Full Circle is Somerville's alternative high school. The kids there are dealing with emotional, academic, and mental health issues. They run this stand with help, and learn many valuable lessons which will help them in their future. I think supporting their hard work is a great way to give back to the community. They have pretty good trees (if you don't wait too long) and are cheap. Their hours are usually posted, but I think they're open every night and weekends also. If they haven't already started, they will start December 1st.

Agassiz Preschool Tree Sale - Starts This Weekend!

[masswich.livejournal.com]

Its been mentioned a couple of times above but the Agassiz Preschool Tree Sale next to the Porter Exchange is a great place to get a tree and help the school's scholarship fund as well. Since Lesley College is "involuntarily relocating" (ie. they bought the building and want the school out after 35 years), its a particularly poignant time to buy a tree there. I won't pretend the prices are too low, but I haven't really seen a place where they are around here.

But, hopefully, the school will find a new home next year and have tree sales for many years to come. Now that's the Christmas spirit!

As you might guess, I am an Agassiz parent. If you come by Sunday between noon and 3, I'll be there hawking trees...

I am sure the Full Circle sale is a good place to go as well.