By Shelia Huffman, The Lake Hoods Lady

The Christmas Tree, a symbol of the living spirit of Christmas, was first introduced to us by German settlers. While several cities in the United States with German connections lay claim to the first Christmas tree during the late 1700s and early 1800s, by 1870 the Christmas Tree was a tradition in most American households.

A Dallas tradition is Sandone Christmas Trees, 6555 E. Northwest Highway, behind Keller’s Drive-In. Family owned and operated, Tony Sandone opened the evergreen tree lot in 1978. All four Sandone children have worked at the lot at one time or another.

Each November, just before Thanksgiving, 1,000 trees arrive at the Sandones’ lot from North Carolina, Michigan and Oregon in preparation for the traditional opening on Thanksgiving Day. To please everyone’s taste, Sandone offers six varieties of trees, which range in price from $30 to $1,700: the Noble Fir, Frazer Fir, Concolor Fir, Douglas Fir, Blue Spruce and this year, the Black Hill Fir. In addition to the most popular trees, Tony selects a new breed each year to see how well it appeals to Dallas folks.

The Frazer and the Noble Fir are the top two sellers, said Tony’s daughter, Veronica. The Fraser Fir has a pyramidal look to it and can grow to heights of around 80 feet. This is the only type of fir that grows native to the southeastern part of the nation. The evergreen needles are up to an inch in length, and the purple cones require just one season to mature to full size. The Noble Fir has silvery green needles that grow to an inch-and-a-half long. This large evergreen fir tree, capable of being 200 feet tall and having a trunk diameter that's five feet wide, grows in the mountain terrain of the Pacific Northwest in California, Oregon and Washington.

I wondered if the advent of the authentic looking fake tree had an adverse effect on real tree sales. Veronica says she doesn’t think so. “Some people will get an artificial tree for a few years and then return to the real tree, probably because of the smell and tradition. You want what you grew up with.”

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, How are thy leaves so verdant? Or orange, or red, or purple or fuchsia? In an on-site flocking tent, Sandone will customize your tree to match your color décor. “We had chocolate brown a few years ago,” said Veronica, “and it was actually very pretty. Although green is the top selling tree, white flock has been very popular this year.”

When choosing a tree at a lot, Tony said buyers should make sure the trees are not exposed to sun and wind, but are protected in tents, as they are at his business. Check to see that they are in water and look at the tree’s color. If you bend a branch on a fresh tree, it will bend, not break. If you touch the tree and get a handful of needles, that is an indication that the tree is already dry.

For long lasting freshness, your tree needs a fresh cut. Sandone performs this service for you. When you get your tree home, put it in hot water with a tree preservative or a flower preservative (the kind you get when you buy a fresh bouquet of cut flowers). Check the heat vents and make sure that no hot air is blowing on the tree. Turn the tree lights off when you are not enjoying them as they dry the tree. People have traditionally put their trees in front of a window so neighbors and passersbys can view it from outdoors, but windows can be hot, especially in our climate, so make sure you close the blinds to help protect your tree from the hot sun.

Now you are ready for the really fun part. Whether you choose strings of popcorn, homemade crafts, heirloom treasures or designer ornaments, decorating the Christmas Tree is a special family event and a memory that lasts forever.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, You fill my heart with music. Reminding me on Christmas Day To think of you and then be gay. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree. Ernst Anschütz