Community Corner

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Here's your guide to finding that last-minute tree.

Area residents still searching for that perfect Christmas tree have plenty to choose from in Westport — and they're not just Charlie Brown Christmas trees.

"I'd say 100," Albert Cuseo said Tuesday afternoon regarding how many Christmas trees he has left at A&J's at 1680 Post Road East, which he owns. "I have from three- to four-feet to 20-feet, Fraser firs and balsam firs."

Stephen Gooss, manager at Geiger's Garden Center at 1135 Post Road East, said his store had fewer than 20 trees left on Monday, but then Geiger's brought over trees from its Fairfield store, and Geiger's now has several dozen trees for sale at its Westport location.

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Trees at Geiger's range from "table top trees" that are from three- to four-feet high to trees that are six- to eight-feet tall, Gooss said. "The largest size we're out of, but there may be a stray nine-footer," he said.

Izzo & Son Country Gardens, at 1431 Post Road East, has about 85 trees left, including eight- to 12-footers, all of which are Fraser firs, said Mary Godfrey, a saleswoman there.

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"Fraser firs are the way to go," she said. "They don't lose their needles, and they are the hardiest Christmas tree."

Cuseo agreed with Godfrey's assessment of Fraser firs, saying they are the best Christmas trees to get."Frasers, they hold their needles much better, and they're much stronger for ornaments," he said. Balsams, which also are for sale at A&J's, are more fragrant, Cuseo said.

Folks who like to cut down their own Christmas tree have that option at the Connecticut Audubon Smith Richardson Tree Farm, but today is the last day the tree farm is open for the 2009 holiday season. The tree farm also sells pre-cut trees.

The tree farm, located off Sasco Creek Road in Westport, is part of the 75-acre Connecticut Audubon Sanctuary donated by the Smith Richardson family in 1975.  The farm is managed by Lou Bacchiocchi.

Bacchiocchi has been maintaining one parcel as a Christmas tree farm for 28 years as a joint venture with the Connecticut Audubon Society, and a portion of the proceeds from selling the trees is donated to the society for conservation and education.

Colorado Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir, and White Spruce are grown on the farm, while Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir and Fraser Fir are trucked in from New Hampshire. The farm is open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Genie Laidler, 84, was among Westport residents shopping for a Christmas tree on Tuesday, and she stopped off at A&J's to see what was available.

"The reason I waited is I don't move so fast anymore, and I don't get around in this bad weather," Laidler said. "My daughter's coming because I can't put the tree stand on. My daughter said, 'You don't need a tree.' I said, 'I've had one for 84 years. I'm not going to do without it now.' "

Laidler wasn't looking for a big tree — just one about four or five feet tall — and Cuseo found a five-footer for her on which he made a fresh cut and charged her $25.

"It's a Santa special," Cuseo said of the price.

Laidler said she was pleased with the tree Cuseo found for her. "I'm happy with the tree I'm getting. It's very nice," she said.

Cuseo said he sells eight-footers and 10-footers for $75, but is open to negotiations for last-minute tree shoppers. He said the price on trees at A&J's start at $25 and that he once sold a 20-footer for $100.

Gooss said Geiger's sells tabletop trees for $27.50 and larger trees for $60 to $80. "We're more amenable to negotiations the closer we get to Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is the prime negotiating time," he said.

Izzo's wouldn't say how much their Christmas trees sell for because the price varies based on the quality of the tree and its size. Izzo's will deliver and set up trees for customers who aren't able to do that, Godfrey said.

Last-minute Christmas tree shoppers are pretty rare, but they do show up every now and then, according to the Christmas tree sellers at Izzo & Son, Geiger's and A&J's.

"I remember a few years back someone came in just as we were closing Christmas Eve," Gooss said. "He had just come back from Florida. He was in a panic and was able to get most of the stuff he needed. Five minutes later, he probably would have missed us."

Godfrey said some people like to buy their Christmas trees at the last minute because they're worried the trees will dry out if they're inside for too long. Cuseo said he hasn't had anyone buy a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve for a few years.

"Years ago, it used to be like that, but times have changed," he said.

Geiger's is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas Eve. Izzo & Son's is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. to mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve, depending on how many customers come by, and A&J's is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Editor Liz Mitchell contributed to this report.


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