A Christmas Tree by Post

It was once believed widely (at least by members of my family) that babies came from storks and Christmas trees came from the YMCA.

This was where my brothers and I tagged along every year as my mother ruthlessly scrutinized every tree in the parking lot, seeking perfection. It was a limited selection, and nobody found it a bit surprising the year she bribed Mr. YMCA (if that was his name) to sell her a Scotch pine marked “Reserved” for the nuns at a local convent.

These days, there’s a lot more choice and Christmas trees come from the Internet. One year, I ordered a six-foot-tall pine from a tree farm in Cadillac, Michigan; UPS delivered it in a cardboard box. For this holiday season, a tabletop Fraser fir comes in a pail, from Terrain. Shipping starts today:

Above: Approximately three feet tall, the Tabletop Fraser Fir comes in a galvanized pail; $58.

Above: Give the tree’s trunk a new cut so it will absorb water and stay fresh longer.

Above: Named for 18th century Scottish botanist John Fraser, the fir gives off a light scent and has leaves that look like soft needles; they won’t scratch you when you hang an ornament.