TREE RUSH: NOBLE FIRS SELLING OUT IN A HURRY; HIGH DEMAND CAUSES SHORTAGES, HIGH PRICES.Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer For its sturdy limbs and longevity, the noble fir The Noble Fir (Abies procera) is a western North American fir, native to the Cascade Range and Coast Range mountains of extreme northwest California and western Oregon and Washington in the United States. has become the hottest-selling Christmas tree Christmas tree Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. this season - so hot that many sellers said Monday they ran out of them while others have raised prices. Most years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time traditional douglas fir Douglas fir: see pine. Douglas fir Any of about six species of coniferous evergreen timber trees (see conifer) that make up the genus Pseudotsuga, in the pine family, native to western North America and eastern Asia. outsells the pricier noble, but this year the noble caught up, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a Christmas tree sellers association. ``We ran out of them about a week ago,'' said Craig Marsden, nursery manager of Green Thumb Nursery in Canoga Park. ``The nobles we sell earlier. Later, we concentrate on the douglas firs.'' With the shortage has come an increase in price. At the Stu Miller Spanish explorer who landed in Florida in 1539 with 600 men and set out to search for the fabled riches of the north. Avenue and Victory Boulevard Victory Boulevard is a major thoroughfare on Staten Island, measuring approximately 8.0 miles (12.87 km) and stretching from the west shore community of Travis to the upper east shore communities of St. George and Tompkinsville. in Woodland Hills, for example, prices for nobles were up about $2 a foot over last year, said supervisor Terry Burgess. So buying the smallest noble, at 5 feet tall, costs $32.95, compared to $23.95 for a douglas of the same size. A 10-foot noble costs $194.95, compared to $59.95 for a douglas. That, of course, has turned off some customers. ``I find these prices completely outrageous,'' said Shannon Reilly, 34, who was shopping at the Woodland Hills Stu Miller with her son Jake, 9. ``But unfortunately I'm behind schedule. Home Depot The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. Headquartered in Vinings, just outside Atlanta in unincorporated Cobb County, Georgia, Home Depot employs more than 355,000 people and operates 2,164 big-box and all those other places are out.'' This year, about 45 percent of the 13 million trees produced in Oregon and Washington - the main suppliers for the West Coast - were noble firs, according to Melissa Berends, spokeswoman for the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association, an industry group representing growers and retailers. That marked the first time sales of nobles were roughly equal to douglas sales. By comparison, in 1990, only 25 percent of the trees sold were nobles and about 50 percent were Douglas. ``We have to plant these trees seven, eight or more years (ahead). Trying to project the market is very difficult. It just happens this is the popular tree and people who planted them 10 years ago are doing great,'' she said. Retailers in other areas across Los Angeles County report similar shortages. ``My brother has a lot in San Pedro and he ran out of them and I have very few left,'' said Bill Jones, co-owner of Kim and Bill's Christmas Trees in Santa Monica. Jones said he had about 40 nobles on his lot Monday, but expected them to run out by later today. On his lot, nobles were retailing for about $12 a foot, or about $84 for a 7-foot tree. Most retailers, however, reported plentiful supplies of douglas and grand firs. The hot, dry winds blowing through the region the last month have caused some problems for retailers. Steve Lebman, of Lebman & Sons Holiday Trees at Topanga Canyon and Chatsworth Street, said he uses his cheaper trees as wind buffers for the pricier ones, and has had to throw out 50 trees this year because of dryness. ``The wind, it doesn't kill the trees, but it will brown the side of the tree on the wind side,'' Lebman said. It also creates a greater fire hazard. A Los Angeles Fire Department The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), also known as the Los Angeles City Fire Department to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles. spokesman said despite the dry weather, there has not been an unusual number of Christmas tree fires, probably because people have been getting smarter about taking care of them. Still, spokesman Brian Humphrey reminded people that trees are ``a hazard waiting to happen,'' and advised homeowners to keep them in water, and if they have any doubt, remove them from the house. ``A Christmas tree takes on average seven years to grow, but in less than seven seconds can become an inferno,'' Humphrey said. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Beatriz Lainez lifts a noble fir Christmas tree while carrying it to a customer's car. Noble firs are the season's hottest-selling trees. Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer |
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