Courtesy Photo Tina Skiba adjusts the decorations on her fresh Fraser Fir Christmas tree on Wednesday. She said a real Christmas tree brings back memories from holidays when she was growing up.

ALPENA — For many people, the smell of a freshly-cut Christmas tree in their home is worth more than the ease of care of an artificial tree.

For years, before the popularity of pre-lit plastic Christmas trees exploded, it was common for families to visit a tree farm, select the perfect tree, cut it down, and take it home to decorate.

Many people in Northeast Michigan still find fresh fir trees appealing and are willing to put the time and effort into caring for them.

Tina Skiba said having a real tree in her home helps her reflect on Christmas celebrations from years past. She said she and her husband Matt Skiba take their time selecting the perfect tree, cutting it down, and taking it home where it is decorated in fine detail.

“We love a real tree because it reminds us of our childhood,” she said. “We spend part of the day wandering through the tree lot and pick out our favorite and cut it down. Sometimes dragging it out is a bit challenging as we age though. I can’t tell you of the beautiful aroma of the season that it fills our home with. It’s tradition.”

Taylor Truman agreed with Skiba. She said the adventure of finding the tree is as important as decorating it and not having a real tree would make the holidays a little less cheerful.

“There’s a certain magic in having a real Christmas tree that goes beyond mere decoration,” Truman said. “Trekking through snowy woods in search of the perfect tree feels like stepping into a timeless holiday story. The moment it’s brought home, its fresh pine scent fills the air, transforming the living room into a cozy forest haven. This simple tradition captures the spirit of Christmas as an enchanting blend of adventure, warmth, and nostalgia that makes the season feel truly alive.”

Harry Kubbe, who is in his early 90s, owns and operates Kubbe’s Tree Farm in Hubbard Lake.

He said he has run the Christmas tree farm for 48 years and watched the Christmas tree industry change. He said several decades ago, nearly every family had a fresh tree, but now, many people elect to have an artificial tree and it really impacted the tree farmers.

However, there is a resurgence in the amount of people who want to pick out their own trees and experience the smells and natural beauty of them.

“When the plastic trees came in, things really slowed down,” Kubbe said. “For some reason, the last couple years, it’s beginning to pick back up, which is good.”

Kubbe said his trees are reasonable at only $25 no matter if it is a white or blue spruce, large or small. He said business begins to pick up right after Thanksgiving and he will remain that way until Christmas Eve. He said he is ready to help people get a tree if they need assistance.

“Most of the time people bring a saw or whatever they need, but I have tools here to help them too,” he said.

Kubbe said a fresh tree, if cared for properly, can last about six weeks and then it will likely be too dried out to remain in its stand. He said watering it is the most important action a person needs to do to ensure the tree remains healthy for as long as possible.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.