Picking out the perfect Christmas tree

The search for that perfect Christmas tree is shifting into high gear as families throughout Merced County visit lots and even tree farms to track down an evergreen to complete their holiday décor. That means finding a tree with the right shape – wide or tall or both – for the space set aside for this year’s Christmas centerpiece. The correct choice eliminates the chance it won’t fit and reduces the amount of trimming needed to squeeze in a tree that’s a bit too majestic. But it has to have enough branches to hold all the decorations and be strong enough hold them up for almost three weeks. So finding the perfect tree requires some searching, but the hunt is all part of the fun. And, who knows, folks just might come across Santa as they stroll the lots inspecting, rejecting and then finally settling on their tree.

This story was originally published December 5, 2014 at 4:56 PM with the headline "Picking out the perfect Christmas tree."