Good Things Come In Trees -- Holiday Farms Give You The Cutting Edge

You can't see the forest for the (holiday) trees? Well, relax and enjoy.

Stop by Seattle's Washington Park Arboretum or Tacoma's Lakewood Mall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. There you'll pick up ideas on making your own wreaths, swags and centerpieces. Or pick up these items themselves, as you soak up tips on decorating a tree, which you also may buy at these "Greens Galore" sales.

The more ambitious among you can head out to one of the U-Cut holiday tree farms throughout the greater Puget Sound area. Such treks make great holiday memories.

Just be sure to dress warmly, wear sturdy shoes or boots, and bring along a rope to help secure your tree to the car. You also may need to take along a cutting tool, although some tree farms supply them.

Some places offer hot beverages, a cookie and other decorator greens. (Some even offer pre-cut trees, swags and wreaths.)

Use care when taking the fresh-cut tree home. Says the Northwest Christmas Tree Association: "Treat trees as carefully as you would a bouquet of fine flowers."

Make a fresh cut on the trunk, to open pores clogged by sap; cut off at least 1/2-half inch. Then put your tree in water as soon as possible. If the tree is not going into the house immediately, store it in a bucket of warm water on a cool patio away from wind so it won't dry out or blow over.

Water daily. A tree may drink from a quart to a gallon of water each day.

Use miniature lights to prolong the tree's life and to prevent its drying out. Large lights produce more heat. Keep the tree away from heat sources.

Here is a list of some of the U-Cut Christmas tree farms in the area. Most are open daylight hours, or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Dec. 22 or 24 (call for exact times, dates, directions). Or call the Christmas Tree Hotline, 296-3425. Prices range from $10 to $100, depending on the tree.

U-CUT TREE FARMS, EAST OF SEATTLE: -- Candy Cane Farm, 760 Park St. (Meadowbrook Road), North Bend (1-888-2099). -- Carnation Tree Farm, 31523 N.E. 40th St., Carnation (1-333-4510). -- Christmas Creek Tree Farm, 15515 468th Ave. S.E., North Bend (1-888-2099). -- Crown Tree Farm, 13005 424th Ave. S.E., North Bend (1-888-1506). -- Keith and Scott Tree Farm, 43342 S.E. Mount Si Road (before bridge), North Bend (1-888-1170). -- McMurtrey Farms, 13641 Redmond/ Woodinville Road, Redmond (881-9340). -- Mountain Creek Tree Farm, 6812 440th Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie (1-888-1770). -- Remlinger Farms, 32610 N.E. 32nd St., Carnation (1-333-4135). -- Papa's Tree Farm, 26429 S.E. 200th St., Hobart, south of Issaquah (432-1690). -- Vip's U-Cut, 29726 N.E. Cherry Valley Road, Duvall (788-2457). -- Yeisley's Tiger Mountain Tree Farm, 15052 Tiger Mountain Road S.E., Issaquah (392-7214).

U-CUT TREE FARMS, NORTH OF SEATTLE: -- Alan Acres Tree Farm, 27314 36th Ave. N.W., Stanwood (1-629-3877). -- Angel's U-Cut Trees, 1852 Amick Road, Mount Vernon (1-422-6021). -- Big Lake Trees, 1897 Highway 9, Mount Vernon (1-422-8681). -- Bridge Family Trees, 1942 Swan Road, Mount Vernon (1-424-1193). -- Busy "B" Trees, 6117 83rd Ave. N.E., Everett (659-9227). -- Campbell's Tree Farm, 12219 99th Ave. S.E., also known as Springhetti Road, Snohomish (568-5187). -- C&J Tree Farm, 4923 164th Ave. S.W., Edmonds (743-2532).. -- Ebey Island Tree Farm, 505 Dike Road (63rd Ave. S.E.), Everett (282-4934). -- Farmer Brown's Tree Farm, 12017 109th Ave. N.E., Arlington (659-6686). -- Holiday Forest, 3624 268th St. N.E., Arlington (435-4124). -- Holiday Hill, 31805 124th St. S.E., Sultan (1-793-0095). -- Jensen's U-Cut Christmas Trees, 29009 88th Ave. N.W., Stanwood (1-629-3203). -- K&M Tree Farm, 7214 61st Ave. S.E., Snohomish (334-3337). -- Leckvold's Alpine Acres, 3729 Menzel Lake Road, Granite Falls (334-2402). -- Muskrat Flats Tree Farm, 501 S.R. 530 N.W., Arlington (652-9184). -- Mountain Bluegrass Tree Farm, 14618 S.R. 530 N.E., Arlington (435-4958). -- Paterson's Lazy Acres Tree Farm, 1315 188th St. N.E., Smokey Point, north of Everett (652-7661). -- Pilchuck Tree Farm, 5301 Grandview Road, Arlington (435-3537). -- Reade Christmas Tree Ranch, 7606 171st Ave. S.E., Snohomish (568-3282). -- Royal Tree Farm, 8111 84th St. N.E., Marysville (659-3019). -- Scattered Acres Tree Farm, 4528 E. Heggenes Road, Clinton, Whidbey Island (1-321-4198). -- Shulars' Firetrail Firs, Second Avenue Northeast at Firetrail Road, Marysville (568-2301). -- Shulars' Second Location, 115th Avenue Northeast (Arnot Road) at Arlington Heights Road, Arlington (568-2301). -- Slenkamp Christmas Tree Farm, 9004 136th Ave. N.W. (Marine Drive at Sunnyshores), Marysville (652-8578). -- St. Nick's Trees, 25411 74th Place S.E., Monroe (1-794-5647). -- Sunnyside Acres Christmas Tree Farm, 4212 83rd Ave. N.E., Everett (334-2382). -- Viking Hill Christmas Tree Farm, 10030 S.R. 530 N.E., Arlington (435-4809). -- Wonderland Tree Farm, 5402 Wonderland Road, Snohomish (568-4671).

U-CUT TREE FARMS, SOUTH OF SEATTLE: -- Ache n' Acres, 44410 208th Ave. S.E., Enumclaw (1-825-6851). -- Firview Trees, 16106 S.E. Lake Moneysmith Road, Auburn (1-800-696-UCUT). -- Berrydale Forest, 15632 S.E. 288th St., Kent (631-0288). -- Charlie and Ray's Trees, 25212 S.E. 216th St., Maple Valley (432-9569). -- Cox Christmas Tree Farm, 10520 E. 404th St., Eatonville (1-832-6673). -- Dawn Tree Farm, 12512 164th St. E., Puyallup (848-0294). -- Double Four Tree Farm, 4217 E. 72nd St., Tacoma (531-0576). -- Firgrove Christmas Tree Farm, 14201 Meridian Ave. S., Puyallup (845-5473). -- Frosty's Forest, 4510 S. 338th St., Auburn (939-3092). -- Grandpa Calvert's Farm, 15703 22nd Ave. E, Tacoma (531-8606). -- Green Branch Ranch, 4802 180th St. E., Tacoma (537-3748). -- Green Valley Ranch, 218th Avenue S.E. at Green Valley Road, near Flaming Geyser State Park, Auburn (886-1101). -- Grunwald Tree Farm, 43120 Auburn-Enumclaw Road S.E., Enumclaw (1-825-6382). -- Harvey's Harvest Since 1975, 7315 166th Ave. E., Sumner (863-0533). -- Hillside Tree Farm, 13100 198th Ave. E., Sumner (838-7979). -- Holiday U-Cut, 39714 Eatonville Cutoff Road, Eatonville (832-6336). -- McCaslin's U-Cut Christmas Trees,

TIME TO TAKE A BOUGH

42811 208th Ave. S.E., Enumclaw (1-825-1036). -- Mountainview Tree Forest, 29231 132nd Ave. S.E., Auburn (631-0139). -- Noel Tree Farm, 43025 196th Ave. S.E., Enumclaw (1-825-6940). -- Outback U-Cut, 10503 136th St. E., Puyallup (845-3232). -- Pfaff's U-Cut Christmas Trees, 29204 124th Ave. S.E., Auburn (852-8244). -- Powell's Tree Farm, 20207 S.E. 284th St., Kent (631-4534). -- Rocking Horse Christmas Tree Farm, 7211 166th Ave. E., Sumner (863-9031). -- Snowshoe Evergreen Choose and Cut, 10716 S.R. 162, Puyallup (845-5199). LI-- Tinseltown Trees, 103 Milwaukee Blvd. N., Pacific (939-3092). -- Whispering Firs, 31013 12th Ave. E., Tacoma (531-9120).

U-CUT TREE FARMS, WEST OF SEATTLE: -- Augie's U-Cut Trees, 11003 S.W. Bank Road, Vashon Island (1-463-2735). -- Mitchell's Tree Farm Number One, 6923 54th Ave. N.W., Gig Harbor (1-851-2970). -- Mitchell's Tree Farm Number Two, 27419 Vashon Highway S.W., Vashon Island (1-463-9532). -- Wildwood Tree Farm, 1531 J.H. Road, Port Orchard (1-876-0567).