Christmas Trees and Decorations
$488.5 millionThe value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and August 2010. China was the leading country of origin for such items. Similarly, China was the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees shipped to the United States ($28.2 million worth) during the same period.
Source: Foreign Trade StatisticsNewsroom: Facts for Features & Special Editions: Facts for Features: The 2010 Holiday Season
Poinsettias, pines and presents
Christmas is right around the corner and shoppers are out in record numbers. Folks are almost obsessed with getting their trees, poinsettias and gifts for family and friends. If you enjoy giving living plants for Christmas, consider giving poinsettias.
Last week, Russell Nagata wrote about the history of poinsettias. Today, let’s focus on purchase, propagation and care of this amazing plant.
Poinsettias, especially in Kona, are in spectacular color now. Although mainland folks think of the poinsettia as a Christmas flower, for us it blooms from late October through March. So if you don’t have a showy supply in your home and garden, now’s the time to start looking for them on the market.
Purchasing potted stock from a garden center or nursery is the easiest way to establish plantings of the holiday ornamental. However, some green thumb operators scavenge the neighborhood for hardwood cuttings when fellow gardeners prune their poinsettias following the flowering season. Getting plants this way can make you feel like a turkey if you choose cuttings from disease infected plants. If you get healthy plants, you can be sure to avoid “fowl” play.
There are a number of poinsettias available. They come in traditional reds or you can enjoy color combinations indoors and in the garden if you mingle the red plantings with white and pink varieties.
Stowaways found in largest Christmas tree shipment of the year
SAND ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii’s largest shipment of Christmas trees from the mainland is here.
On Sunday morning, inspectors combed through them and they found some creatures who came along for the joy ride.
A salamander, some tree frogs, and a cricket are among the hitchhikers in this season’s shipment of Christmas trees.
But after all the shaking, and searching for invasive species at Matson’s Sand island terminal, it was a slimy guy who triggered a red flag.
“We found several slugs and we’re concerned about it being a problem here to our agriculture industry, environment and also public health and safety,” said Glenn Sakamoto, Plant Quarantine Inspector with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
The state says the slug was found in 11 of the 62 containers.
The vendor has a choice. It can either treat the trees or send them back to the mainland.
This is the third shipment in three weeks.
In all, there are roughly 200 containers filled with more than 80,000 Christmas trees.
The state says that’s more than last year.
That’s because there was a shortage of trees, and people started air freighting them.
The state anticipates a bigger supply this year.
As for the little buggers, inspectors say if they have kamaaina family members, they get to stay in Hawaii.
Delta Will Be Happy To Transport Your Christmas Tree This Season
Bringing a little more back home with you than just indigestion and a few extra pounds? If your checked baggage includes an entire Christmas tree then look no further than Delta to help you get your holiday tree back home in one piece. Most airlines would probably just laugh at you if you brought a Christmas tree to the airport, but apparently Delta will welcome you and your Tannenbaum.
Freshly cut trees will be accepted as limited-release baggage—that means you can’t flip out if they break a branch—for all flights within the nifty fifty. That’s right…no problem bringing one back to Hawaii, so you can share a little holiday aloha with your friends and family in the islands. You’ll just need to send it through the agricultural inspection folks when you arrive in paradise.
Like any checked baggage, trees will be subject to all kinds of baggage allowance and size restrictions, so that means no crazy ginormous trees. We’re thinking that also means that it will cost just as much to check a tree as it would to check a bag, so carry-on this holiday season and send the tree underneath!
Just make sure that the tree is wrapped all nice and snug in burlap or something similar, and that the root ball or base is covered as well. They don’t want any dirt or branches escaping into the cargo hold and you don’t want to find a mangled tree waiting for you at baggage claim.
Delta Will Be Happy To Transport Your Christmas Tree This Season || Jaunted
Waimea renews tradition with 40-foot Christmas tree
Kickoff of Lokahi Giving Project slated
Before the 40-foot Monterey Cypress could be felled Monday morning, master woodworker Ski Kwiatkowski talked to it, shared the plan and asked the tree’s permission.
The 80-year-old tree in Puu Pueo, an area owned by Parker Ranch along Mana Road, is the centerpiece of Waimea’s holiday season. It is part of the town’s effort to commemorate Christmases past and ignite traditions.
Christmas trees already on sale
KUNIA (HawaiiNewsNow) – Most of us haven’t even bought a Thanksgiving turkey or ham yet, but some people have already picked out their fresh Christmas trees.
We found lots of shoppers at the Kunia WalMart, choosing their trees, a full five weeks before the big day.
They say they’re not worried about their trees turning brittle and brown before santa arrives.
“We looked in the paper and it said Wal-Mart’s got trees, and this is the new addition to our family”, said Ko Olina residents Richard & Dealine Foust.
“It’s the holidays and the earlier we get the tree, we can celebrate it earlier and I like the smell”, said Ewa Beach resident Randy Borges
Christmas trees are on sale at all Hawaii WalMart stores, except for the Honolulu store, which doesn’t have a garden center
Christmas trees already on sale – Hawaii News Now – KGMB and KHNL Home