by Hazel, age 9, asks why trees aren’t perfect, about Mount Hood, and Oregon tree farms
Dear Santa,
Hey Santa, from Portland, Oregon. My name is Hazel and I am 9 years old. We live near a lot of tree farms, and every year my family picks out a real one, and every year my dad insists the gap on one side is not a problem, it just faces the wall.
My first question is: why aren’t Christmas trees ever perfectly shaped?
My second question is geography: what mountain can you see from Portland on a clear day?
My third question is from school: why is Oregon such a big source of Christmas trees in America?
I left you marionberry jam on toast, since that is about as Oregon as a snack gets.
Love, Hazel, age 9, Portland, Oregon, USA
From the Desk of Father Christmas
Dear Hazel, marionberry jam was a delicious surprise, tart and sweet at once. Now, to defend your dad’s gap-facing-the-wall strategy and answer your questions.
Why aren’t Christmas trees perfectly shaped?
Real trees are living things, and living things grow a little unevenly, shaped by sunlight, wind, and the space around them, so a perfectly symmetrical tree is actually quite rare in nature. Tree farmers trim and shape trees every year to help them grow fuller and more even, but some natural imperfection almost always remains, a thinner branch here, a slight lean there. Many people actually love that imperfection, since it is part of what makes a real tree feel alive rather than manufactured, a bit like the beloved scraggly tree in a certain famous cartoon that becomes wonderful once it is decorated with care. Your dad’s gap-facing-the-wall trick is a time honoured solution used by tree lovers everywhere.
What mountain can you see from Portland on a clear day?
On a clear day, Portland has a lovely view of Mount Hood, a tall, snow capped volcano standing about 3,429 metres high, roughly an hour drive from the city. It is one of the most photographed mountains in the whole country.
Why is Oregon such a big source of Christmas trees?
Oregon has the ideal mix of mild, rainy winters, cool summers, and rich soil that many popular Christmas tree species, like the Noble fir and Douglas fir, love to grow in. That perfect climate, combined with decades of experienced tree farmers, has made Oregon the top Christmas tree producing state in the entire United States, sending trees to homes all across the country.
Tell your dad the gap looks fine to me, and I shall see you very soon.
Ho ho ho, Santa
