CHRISTMAS TREE: THE FRASER FIR

The fraser fir is named for the Scottish explorer and botanist, John Fraser, (1750-1811).  He first discovered the tree while exploring the Appalachian mountains in the southern United States in the late 1700s.  To put this into perspective, the US had claimed itself independent of Great Britain only a few years prior to his expedition.  Below, you can see a map of the range where the Fraser fir grows:

It's characteristics are ideally suited to Christmas tree decorating:

Here are 2 pictures of the Fraser Fir tree, one on the farm and the other in the studio:

The natural maximum height range of this tree is 40-60 feet, with a lifespan of 180-200 years.  It takes approximately 8 years to grow a 6-7 foot tree that is ready for market.  Growers leave what are called the "whorls" when they cultivate a tree.  Essentially, the tree is cut above the bottom level of branches.  One of these branches will grow into a new tree, creating a completely sustainable farm: