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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 27, 2005 Thanksgiving’s long gone ... it’s time to find the tree By GREG STILES Mail Tribune E ric Halterman hunches over and examines the grand fir in front of him. The width and breadth are well within his parameters, the branches and needles conform to his vision of the perfect Christmas tree. But on closer inspection, the trunk veers off course about a foot off the ground — something sure to bring groans if the evergreen found its way back home. So the search continued. Halterman is among the many Southern Oregonians who head to the woods or Christmas tree farms every Thanksgiving weekend. The Grants Pass man’s wife and two daughters opted not to brave the early morning chill, but sent precise instructions as he made his third pilgrimage to Bob’s U-Cut on Nellis Avenue, next to Interstate 5 north of Central Point. "It’s got to be thick, with strong branches for decent-size ornaments, and has to look like the perfect Christmas tree," Halterman says. "It takes a minimum of an hour to just to find one." Advertisement Bob Snyder and his wife Mary Cowden Snyder began planting trees on 15 of their 78 acres near Blackwell Hill a quarter-century ago. They typically plant more than a thousand seedlings. No matter how many trees are on the hillside, Halterman says, it’s best to strike early. "To get the prime pick you need to come early," Halterman says. "You come later and you start getting limited trees." As Halterman mulls his options far from the parking lot, Lou Young brings his wife, two daughters, son and a friend to Bob’s, and in moments they find a tree to their liking, then another and another. Young says until last year, multiple generations of his family made the drive above Butte Falls to hunt for Christmas trees. "The family is kind of scattered now," Young says. Daughters Marissa and Kelynn finally narrow the list to two 8-footers before their mom enters the conversation. "This is a pretty one," Marsha Young says. "What do you guys think? We could put this side up against the window. It has one bare spot, but we can make it work." She calls for a vote, and Marissa pipes up in favor. Kelynn follows suit. "It fits nicely and it’s symmetrical," Marsha Young says. Finally, big brother Zach makes it unanimous and pulls out the hand saw and goes to work. In 15 minutes, the Youngs have their tree loaded up. Bob Snyder, a forester and forest economist during his working days, says the terrain presents difficulties because of a water table that gives fir plantings fits. But the visible location has made it a great trade off. Terri Cavalli of Medford says she has been cutting her Christmas tree at Bob’s since her 23-year-old daughter was a toddler. "I don’t want to be out in the snow in the mountains and be cold and freezing all day," says Cavalli, whose family hauled off four trees. "We come out here, pretend we’re in the mountains and foraging around. We go home set it up, decorate and we’re all done in one day." Where to get a tree Bob's U-Cut: Open Friday through Sunday through mid-December. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. and close at 4:45 p.m. Turn on to Nellis Avenue, paralleling Interstate 5 off Tolo Road. Call Mary Cowden Snyder at 772-1362. Clark's Tree Farm U-Pick We Cut, 980 Washburn Lane, off Madrona Lane. Hours are 10 a.m. to dusk Tuesday through Sunday. Call Jim and Sharri Griffin at 774-1098. Yuletide Trees, 3491 Madrona Lane. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Call Steve and Cindy Andrews at 608-7311. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail Thanksgiving�s long gone ... it�s time to find the tree ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Advertisement s