Well, Zippy_TPH....since you seem to want to create an argument . . . which I had no intention of and was just trying to share some useful information with the community, see below:

Overloaded electrical outlets and faulty wires are the most common causes of holiday fires in residences - these are just as likely to affect artificial trees as Real Trees.

In 2004, the Farmington Hills Fire Department in metropolitan Detroit conducted a test of how real and artificial trees react in a house fire. The artificial tree, which was advertised as “flame retardant,” did resist the flames for an amount of time, but then was engulfed in flames and projected significant heat and toxic smoke, containing hydrogen chloride gas and dioxin.

Click on this link to see both images:
http://www.christmastree.org/faketrees.c...

And yes, I am a nice person.

Every Thanksgiving morning our family heads out to Utzig's on Hwy 11. We've been going there for more than 10 years now. After finding the perfect tree and paying for it an employee will mark it sold. A week later we go back and cut it down. Usually it's just the hubby and I so we can fold down the van seats and not bother with the rope on the roof. The best investment we made is the "spike" tree stand. The bottom of the tree has a hole drilled straight up and the tree slips onto the spike. No more arguing if it's straight! The used tree goes outback to be a birdfeeder after Christmas.

This blog makes me ponder in thoughts a bit because I grew up with a real tree every year. Since I moved out, I've never had a real tree (and sometimes never at all). As I gear up for the holidays ... now as an adult, trying to create my own traditions for my family, I wish I wouldv'e kept my childhood Christmas tradition alive. Thanks Ames, I think I'll rethink the fake and go with the real tree! :)

We've always made it a family affair. Our living room has an 18 ft ceiling so we like to get tall trees and Cold Springs Tree Farm has them at a very reasonable price. The owners give you a saw and a cart to haul the tree and then take your picture with your tree and always have warm apple cider to drink in their barn. It's fun and a great family tradition.

Check out Country Side Trees on North Walworth Rd. Millie's is right around the corner, have breakfast first then pick out your tree. They have lots of homemade decorations and ornaments, plus a hayride.

kburton - There are more environmental benefits by not having any tree, you know. I didn't even want to bring up the 200 fires, six deaths, 25 injuries, and 6 million dollars in property damage last year from Christmas trees, but I did just for fun. I like Utzigs, Tannenbuam Acres, and I bet you're probably a pretty nice person, too.

I have worked at Christmas Tree Farm with my family since I was 7 years old (I am now 25). We work out at Utzigs Tannenbaum Acres just west of Janesville on Hwy. 11. It has been one of the best experiences of my life. There are so many environmental benefits of having a real Christmas Tree that many people don't know about. Here are a few:

-Christmas trees are raised on often-marginal land not suited for other agricultural purposes

-Christmas tree farms provide wildlife habitat and improve soil conservation

-Plantations are successful carbon sinks, mitigating the carbon dioxide produced by cars and trucks

-An acre of plantation trees produces the equivalent oxygen demand for eighteen people

-Real Christmas trees are biodegradable and can be used as mulch after the holidays

-Artificial trees consume petroleum in their manufacture and transportation to market

Plus its just a fun family tradition to start. Picking out and cutting down your own tree. Come out and see us at Utzigs Tannenbaum Acres . . . we open Thanksgiving Day. You won't regret it!

We go to out on a limb tree farm outside of Clinton. http://www.savorwisconsin.com/AllListing...
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They are nice people, always have sharp saws, they shake and wrap tree to help you get it home, free Hot Chocolate in the old log home, petting zoo, tractor and flat bed to help bring your tree in once you cut it down and their prices are pretty decent. They also sell wreathes. Usually a couple of cute golden retrievers running around as well.

I beleive they are only open on the weekends from Thanksgiving until Christmas.

My family has always gone to Paul's Tree Farm on Beloit-Newark Rd. They have a huge selection of trees, pretty much any type of tree you would want in any size and shape. They also have a little shop where you can get fresh popcorn and goodies. The owner also makes rolling pins that are so beautiful. It's been a tradition that we get a tree and a rolling pin every year. Check them out...it's worth the drive. http://www.paulstreefarm.com/

We go to a small tree farm on Hwy. 26 between Milton & Janesville. They are only open 2 weekends in December, so you have to watch their sign at the end of their driveway after Thanksgiving to find out when they'll be open (right now it just says CLOSED). They only charge about $30 to cut your own. They trim it up for you, have saws there, everything you need for that kind of adventure. I do recommend wearing some pretty heavy, durable gloves however. Dragging a tree through snow and the woods is not easy work. The production and work that goes into cutting your own tree, getting it home without it falling off of your car, hoping that you don't have to cut 2' off the bottom to get it to fit in your living room, waiting for the branches to fall, stringing 1200 lights on it, putting ornaments on, watering it every day without the cats climbing up it, the kid knocking it over or any live animals hitching a ride along the way is all worth it...it is Christmas after all.

My wife is alergic, so we don't get real trees. Not that that bothers me; I wouldn't be upset if we had no tree at all, it's just not what I think or care about when I think of Christmas.

The only reason why I would get a real live tree would be so I could plant it in my yard. I haven't looked around to see if anyone sells them, or if it would even survive being transplanted so late in the year. I'm sure I couldn't afford one this year anyway. Some day though :)

I don't cut pine trees. They gum up the chimney.

I agree farmgirl. It makes me angry that Christmas came the day after Halloween this year. My family has always decorated the day after Thanksgiving. Inside and out. We don't have a set place to get our trees. We used to go out on Hwy 51 next to the mini golf course. Is that still there? My fiancee and I are trying to get new traditions going with our family. Although we keep our old ones too.

We head to Williams Tree Farm on Thanksgiving morning to pick our tree. They have great trees and a wonderful atmosphere. I also get a new ornament each year to hang on the tree. We don't decorate it until the next day or over the weekend because we head over to our friend's house for our "extended family" Thanksgiving dinner. All in all it is a great adventure and a family tradition that I hope my kids continue when they start their families. :) You are more than welcome to tag along with us!

I agree a tree out in the open is a lot bigger when you get home. Our family has done both cut your own and from the tree lots. Never a artificial one. Hubby prefers cut your own , but sometimes we just cant afford it ($40 and up)and we go to the budget lot down on Delavan Dr. they have some real nice one for $10- $20.
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I always wait till the weekend after Thanksgiving to put up any decor. I just can't wrap my mind around doing it any sooner. Just like I can't stand Christmas music until the day after thanksgiving. Hearing it now at Walmart is just depressing,they are pushing the holiday season too hard too early.

When we go with a live tree we head to Williams Tree Farm in Rockton IL. Williams has the perfect atmosphere for Christmas. Big log cabin type display area with Christmas ornaments, food, and a fire place. I usually get some fudge and hot chocolate. In addition, they have wagon rides out to the trees. They also have Golden Retrievers that will follow you out to your tree from time to time. Sometimes they just hang out by the fire place. It can really get you in the mood for the holidays. They have a wide variety of tree types you can cut down. I've run into several people from Janesville there. One word of caution though... what looks like a small tree in the forest may be a tag big for your house.