Pick the Tree then Pick Some Crabs – Part Two

Christmas tree shopping is a great way to spend the day with the family leading into the holiday season. It is an opportunity to make some memories that will last much longer than the gifts. There is a lot of planning required in putting together the perfect day, which includes picking out the best places to look for a tree, the type of tree that you want, and crabs. No perfect day in Maryland is complete without some crabs!

The Crab Shacks in Crofton and Edgewater are both surrounded by multiple locations where you can find the perfect tree. Once you know where you are going to go for trees and crabs, what kind of tree do you want? There are multiple different types of Christmas trees available, each with its own unique qualities. The one quality they all have in common is that they go great with crabs.

Types of Trees

Some of the most popular types of trees that fall into the “Christmas Tree” category are Fir, Pine, Spruce, Cypress, and Cedar. Each of these varietals has multiple different trees available, and certain trees are better in different areas. The Maryland area is one of the more versatile areas for Christmas trees, where variations of Fir, Spruce, and Pine have emerged as the most popular.

The Fraser Fir is a dark tree, blue-green in color. This tree has strong branches, is able to hold the heavier ornaments, and tends to last longer. The needles are more durable, so they will not wind up on the floor after a mild breeze and are soft to the touch. The tree has a rich, pine smell and grows narrow, from top to bottom, offering more room and pockets for ornaments.

The Douglas Fir is lighter in color, more light green, and also is able to hold heavier ornaments. It has a richer pine smell than the Fraser. The Concolor Fir, also called a White Fir, is blue-green in color, has longer needles and a bushier appearance. These trees have more of a citrus scent than the other Firs, are full throughout, and have more of a medium-wide bottom.

Moving away from the Firs, the Scotch Pine is another tree popular in the area. Bright to dark green with stiff branches, the Scotch Pine will not lose needles when wet. Although not indigenous to the area, it is the most planted Christmas tree in North America.

It has a milder pine smell but tends to last longer. The White Pine has a blue-green to silver color with very long needles nearing five inches, almost 4 times as long as the Fraser Fir. It will hold onto its needles throughout the entire season but has thinner, more elastic limbs which are not well suited for heavier ornaments. It is perfect for anyone with scent allergies because it has little to no fragrance.

Lastly, the Blue Spruce has a dark green to powdery blue color. Often sold as a live tree with the roots still intact, it is the official White House Christmas tree and can be planted at the end of the season. It is arguably the best tree for needle retention and has solid branches which can support ornaments of all shapes and sizes.

These are only five of the enormous variety of trees that are available for the holiday season. Regardless of which tree you choose, the perfect place to buy it is right down the road from The Crab Shack in either Edgewater or Crofton.

So, make your plan for tree shopping, and then bring the whole family to The Crab Shack, Maryland’s number one place for fresh Maryland Crabs and Cajun Boil Pots. For more information, please visit www.thecrabshackmd.com.