Little Christmas tree contest? 2023 to 2026.

[KateM]

Now I am thinking it's a fir - flat needles attached to the branches with "suction cups".
View attachment 522367

So, it looks like a Douglas fir.
Here is the broken branch I picked up under the one at work . There are slight differences which I think could juvenile VS mature growth. Needles on the mature tree are shorter, blunter at the end, less flexible and the underside has whitish bloom. The distribution all around the branch, attachment to the branch and bud shape are pretty much the same.
Mature tree from work:

Juvenile tree from HD:

Thank you @IckyGuyBonsai.

 

[IckyGuyBonsai]

Those big pointy buds are what looked familiar to me as I have a batch of young Doug firs going as well. After comparing pictures, looks about right to me. Mine haven't gone full mature needles yet either.

 

[sevan]

I went back to Home Depot today and picked some trees to work with, but the SKU was no longer in the system and they said they couldn't sell it to me. So, I guess I'll have to skip this one.

I went to another HD today and found a more creative employee that was able to sell an inkberry holly (ilex glabra) to me Unfortunately, they only had one left and I wanted some for my yard too. So, I'll have to spend the next couple of months deciding if it goes in the ground or in the contest.

 

[Cajunrider]

Home Depot in my town is selling tiny Alberta Spruce at 50% off. At $10 per tree I was really tempted but decided to walk away. Alberta spruce is tough to keep alive in my area.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Home Depot in my town is selling tiny Alberta Spruce at 50% off. At $10 per tree I was really tempted but decided to walk away. Alberta spruce is tough to keep alive in my area.

I can imagine They would be.

A Home Depot near me had 1 gallon arborvitae for 6$, But I already have too many Thuja.

 

[sevan]

I went to another HD today and found a more creative employee that was able to sell an inkberry holly (ilex glabra) to me Unfortunately, they only had one left and I wanted some for my yard too. So, I'll have to spend the next couple of months deciding if it goes in the ground or in the contest.

View attachment 523072

After my success getting a tree, I went back to my first HD and tried again with the 4 remaining Inkberry Hollies (I think the same ones I tried to buy before) and found an employee that was able to make it happen. Now I will definitely be joining the fun! I think I know which one will be the contest tree, but I'll need to dig into the dirt a little bit to be sure. I will do that in a couple of months when most of the winter weather is behind us.

 

[Eckhoffw]

After my success getting a tree, I went back to my first HD and tried again with the 4 remaining Inkberry Hollies (I think the same ones I tried to buy before) and found an employee that was able to make it happen. Now I will definitely be joining the fun! I think I know which one will be the contest tree, but I'll need to dig into the dirt a little bit to be sure. I will do that in a couple of months when most of the winter weather is behind us.

Good haul. Nice to have some ilex in the mix.