Ask an Expert: Pick the Perfect Tree

Bruce Tammen, owner of Tammen Treeberry Farm offers his expert tips.

The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the season at Tammen Treeberry Farm in Wilmington. And, it does not matter if Thanksgiving comes early. "November 23 is the earliest it gets," Tammen said. "The day after Thanksgiving is our busiest day of the season." The farm offers any size tree for $50, including tax. Purchasers get to choose and cut down their selection. "We don’t have any precut trees," Tammen said. "We used to sell that way, but it got to be where people did not want to buy them." Because he used to sell both, though, Tammen is uniquely qualified to offer tips on what to look for when buying a real tree. Cut-your-own: Pre-cut trees: "That’s all, just water," Tammen said. "No material has been found yet that is better …

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Christmas Tree Farms Lose Young Trees to 2012 Drought

The drought and heat of 2012 killed younger Christmas trees, but those you'll want to buy around Plainfield are ready for purchase.

Young Christmas trees -- those planted this spring or last year -- were most affected by the drought and heat of 2012.  Charles Ide, who runs Ide Christmas Tree Farm in Downers Grove along Plainfield Road, told the Chicago Tribune every one of the several thousand trees he planted this year and last died. It's the worst damage in the 55 years he's run the farm, the Trib reported.  But when you go to purchase your Christmas tree, you won't see a shortage. Christmas trees take about a decade to grow, and the older trees weathered the harsh conditions the best because they have a more extensive root system to reach moisture, according to the Trib.  David Daniken, past president of the Illinois Christmas Tree Farm Association, told the Trib …

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About Town

Nothing Says Christmas Like the Exotic Animals at Anderson Tree Farm

The cut-your-own tree farm has been in business since the 1950s, but part of its charm today are the exotic animals and the free hot chocolate and popcorn.

They go to Anderson Tree Farm for the Christmas trees.  They come back for the critters.  Just three miles west of Plainfield, the farm has a dozen varieties of Christmas trees and even more species of animals. It's located on Route 126, right at the junction of Santa Claus Lane and Dr. Dolittle Road.   When you go there to cut a fresh tree, you get an extra gift: a glimpse of a llama, alpaca, emu, horse, cows, miniature donkey, miniature horse, dogs, kittens, chickens, ducks., turkey, geese, swans, and, of course, white tail deer. Did I mention the potbelly pigs, who are pushing about 1,000 pounds? Or the zebra?  "Some people have lived here for 15 years and never knew we were here," said Chuck Pollack, an Anderson employee. But a lot of …

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