Gardening
Selecting and Keeping Your Christmas Tree Looking Its Best
Proper selection and care of your Christmas tree will keep it fresh and looking its best throughout the holidays.
Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com
The hunt for the perfect tree is oftentimes an important part of family tradition. Buy local whenever possible by supporting local Christmas tree growers. Purchasing locally grown trees also reduces the risk of spreading unwanted pests into your landscape. Your local University Extension Service and Department of Natural Resources provide updates on any threats.
Family tradition may dictate your tree choice. Many prefer the fragrance of balsam fir and needle retention of other firs like Fraser, white, Grand, and Noble. Though not a true fir, Douglas fir needles have a wonderful aroma when crushed. White pine lacks the fragrance that many prefer. Its pliable branches only support lightweight ornaments, but the soft needles have less bite than the popular Scots or Scotch pine. This evergreen has stiff branches that support heavier ornaments and its needles hold even when dry.
Check for freshness. A fresh tree will last throughout the holidays. Run your hand along the stem. The needles should be pliable yet firmly attached to the branch. Avoid trees with lots of moss, lichens, vines, broken branches, and other signs of poor care.
Look at the overall shape and size of the tree. Stand the tree upright to make sure it will fit in the allotted space. Check the trunk. It should be straight and the base small enough to fit in your tree stand.
Make a fresh cut, removing at least an inch from the base of the trunk before setting it in the stand. Straight or diagonal cuts work equally well. A diagonal or V-shaped cut may make it difficult to properly support the tree in the stand.
Proper watering is key. Fill the stand with water and check it often. Fresh trees can absorb as much as 2 quarts of water in the first 24 hours. Keeping your tree stand filled with water is the best way to keep your tree looking its best throughout the season.
Once your tree is in place, you can add lights and decorations. Then take time throughout the busy holiday season to relax with your favorite winter beverage and enjoy the beauty of your Christmas tree.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener's Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses "How to Grow Anything" DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda's Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Antiques
Antique Photographs
While cataloging photos for our ongoing auction of the Rotman family Worcester, New England and historical items collection, I was inspired to write about collecting and selling photos, specifically how to tell if the items you have in your home might be valuable.
First, a brief history of photography. The idea of capturing images dates back further than you might expect, beginning with the technique of "camera obscura," which is now known as a precursor to modern cameras. Items were projected from the outside into a dark room or hall through a pinhole. Britannica writes that that the concept dates back more than 2,000 years with the Chinese and ancient Greeks such as Aristotle likely taking part.
On January 7, 1839, members of the French Académie des Sciences first viewed images (daguerreotypes) by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre (1787–1851). According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Daguerre wanted to develop a way to permanently capture the fleeting camera obscura images he viewed. Sadly, the "Diorama" where Daguerre kept his photographs burned to the ground.
Ambrotypes and tintypes (also known as ferrotypes) came into use during the 1850s. They were quicker and cheaper to use than daguerreotypes. The cost ranged from 25 cents to $2.50 in the U.S.
Cartes de visite (commonly called CDVs) became popular in the late 1850s. A CDV is a small photograph on cardboard backing. Cabinet photos followed soon after and gradually replaced CDVs, coming into use during the 1860s. Cabinet cards are similar to CDVs, but larger and typically include the photographer's name and location.
Here are some things to look for in your own photos. Most daguerreotypes were portraits of unidentified people and usually don't have a lot of value. But a daguerreotype of a famous person can be very valuable. A daguerreotype of Sam Houston, who was an important figure during the Texas Revolution from 1834 to 1836, sold for $33,000 in 2018. A daguerreotype of an outdoor scene can be even more valuable. An image of a San Francisco building draped in bunting sold for over $140,000 in 2008. Sometimes the cases can be worth more than the image inside it. The Vermont Journal writes that thermoplastic cases were made of shellac and sawdust that was mixed and colored with chemicals before being rolled to create a thin sheet of plastic. A thermoplastic case depicting Washington crossing the Delaware sold for $2,600 in 2019.
There are also many examples of other types of photos fetching high prices. An ambrotype of a traveling photographer's studio went for $95,000 in 2010. A tintype of Buffalo Bill Cody posed with guns and game sold for $36,000 in 2016. A CDV of Major Martin Delaney (who was one of the first African American men admitted to Harvard Medical School and a surgeon during the Civil War) in uniform sold for over $59,000 in 2020.
Baseball player photos also sell very well. A Honus Wagner Sporting Life cabinet photo brought $264,000 in 2019. A picture is worth a thousand words, and sometimes even six figures.
There are many local photographs in the Rotman memorabilia online auction. We will be holding a preview on Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Bidding ends on Wednesday, December 7th. We are cataloging items for another online auction featuring art, Civil War memorabilia, samplers and other antiques, collectibles and memorabilia. It will start in December and end in early January. Please visit our website www.centralmassauctions.com for links to upcoming events.
Please contact us at: www.centralmassauctions.com (508-612- 6111) info@centralmassauctions.com for antiques and collectibles auction services.