O Christmas Tree

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2004/12/christmas-tree-farm.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1276;s:4:"file";s:31:"2004/12/christmas-tree-farm.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"christmas-tree-farm-336x223.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:223;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"christmas-tree-farm-771x512.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"christmas-tree-farm-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"christmas-tree-farm-768x510.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:510;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"christmas-tree-farm-1536x1021.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1021;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"christmas-tree-farm-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"christmas-tree-farm-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"christmas-tree-farm-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"christmas-tree-farm-468x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:468;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"christmas-tree-farm-399x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:399;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"christmas-tree-farm-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"christmas-tree-farm-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"christmas-tree-farm-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1047080;s:14:"optimized_size";i:751670;s:7:"percent";d:28.210000000000001;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2004/12/christmas-tree-farm.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:1042575;s:14:"optimized_size";i:747209;s:7:"percent";d:28.329999999999998;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:5:"large";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:65:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2004/12/christmas-tree-farm-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4505;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4461;s:7:"percent";d:0.97999999999999998;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:98:"Unknown error occurred (100 - Operation timed out after 45001 milliseconds with 0 bytes received) ";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1637620735 
1103846400

About 45 minutes north of Birmingham on I-65 is Pine Hills Farms. It’s ten acres of nothing but Christmas trees and a few reindeer thrown in for good measure. And one Saturday before Christmas it’s swarming with people looking for the perfect tree.

Carlene Walker: “I am part owner of Pine Hill Farms, Christmas tree farm. We have been in business for 14 years. I think we have about seven different types of trees. We raise LeeLand Cyprus, Carolina Sapphire, Blue Ice, Diadora, White Pine and then we bring in Fraiser Firs from North Carolina.”

Barbara Rucker: “I like the ones that are, where the branches are spaced so that my ornaments can hang rather than lay against the needles.”

Terry McCombs: “Well we generally have to settle that as a family discussion. I like the LeeLand Cyprus and my wife leans towards pines more. So, sometimes we end up making a decision that I want, sometimes she wins out. We come here every year for the last twelve years, at least, for our tree.”

Rucker: “The kids are all excited, they have Santa Claus with the trailer that they take the kids in. It’s just great, it’s like Christmas.”

Amber Michelle Thomas: “I think it’s a really lovely place.”

Ray Bruner: “Came out with the grandkids to look for a Christmas tree.”

Brad Christopher Thomas: “They’re lots of fun to decorate.”

Beth Campbell: “We came out to the farm for our boys to see the reindeer that’s out here. This is his first year [young son’s], so we don’t do it every year, but, you know, try to hit it once or twice while they’re still little.”

McCombs: “Well, you’ve got to have the just perfect tree depending on the space you have available this particular year, or what type of family plannings that you’re having. Just like the idea of cutting our own trees and the festive atmosphere.”

McCombs’ wife: (While hunting for tree.) “There’s always a bald spot.” {Laughter}

McCombs: “I mostly just get frustrated and then tell everybody how to do it and let them take control.”

Bruner: “I think if the children thinks it’s pretty, then that’s the one you ought to get. That’s what makes ’em pretty to me.”

Fun Christmas Tree Facts

  • Bringing evergreens inside to celebrate the winter solstice is a practice predating Christ’s birth.
  • Because they never lose their leaves, evergreens are symbolic of life in many ancient traditions.
  • Growing Christmas trees provides a habitat for wildlife.
  • Christmas trees grow in all 50 states.
  • Franklin Pierce was the first president to put up a Christmas tree in the White House back in 1856.
  • Christmas trees didn’t become popular in Norway until around 1900.
  • Legend has it that German religious figure Martin Luther was walking in the forest one winter evening when he noticed the stars shining through the branches of the trees. He loved the sight so much he wanted to share the image with others. So, he cut down an evergreen, brought it inside and attached little candles to its branches to mimic the effect.

 

For the first time ever, Taliban reps were invited to the big U.N. climate conference

Since the Taliban took power 2021, Afghanistan has not been invited to big climate conferences. And money for projects addressing climate-related issues has been frozen. Are things about to change?

Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death has resurfaced in Europe after elaborate plot

Wisconsin authorities say they have not yet issued a warrant for Ryan Borgwardt, who is believed to be somewhere in Eastern Europe. But that can change if he does not cooperate and return home soon.

Jonathan Majors and ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari settle assault and defamation case

In a civil lawsuit this spring, the actor's former girlfriend alleged a "pattern of pervasive domestic abuse" in addition to defamation. Her legal team said the suit has been settled.

University of Texas, MIT and others announce free tuition for some undergraduates

Nearly half a dozen institutions of higher education announced plans this week to make tuition free for undergraduates whose families make below a certain income threshold, starting in fall 2025.

Judge indefinitely postpones sentencing in Trump’s hush money case

The decision to indefinitely adjourn next week's sentencing date comes several days after both lawyers agreed that a stay would help sort out unprecedented legal questions.

Trans health care under Trump may follow the abortion playbook and its Hyde amendment

Republicans spent $222 million on anti-trans and LGBTQ advertising in the campaign. Various policy initiatives are on the incoming administration's to-do list.

More News Coverage