This will be somewhat off topic, but a worthy discussion, in my opinion. Just so you know....the cut Xmas tree business is a renewable one. The idea that you are cutting down trees for nothing is simply not true. These conifers are replaced all the time; the land that they are growing on is always full of growing trees. It is no more an instance of the 'ridiculous' killing of trees than is the harvesting of any renewable crop....corn, wheat, cotton, etc. Also, every community I've lived in within the last 25 years has had a Xmas tree recycling program so that you can have your tree turned into mulch. In most instances, Xmas tree farms are privately rather than corporately owned, often held within the same families for generations. Their trees are not cut down, never to be replaced, leaving acreages barren. As a matter of fact, new trees are often planted amongst the older ones, so that clear cutting never occurs. My only issue with these trees is that, due to insect pressure, they are usually a high pesticide-use crop. For that reason, when we buy our tree (which we do every year), we keep it outside..."planted" in a hole in the ground (PVC pipe) and covered with lights. It sits right outside our big front window... rather than inside! We buy from a local tree farm. Mind you, I am extremely sensitive to chemicals so we CAN'T have it inside, but we sure do enjoy the glimmering lights every year. Back to your topic, I love to see indoor trees decorated with lights. I'll bet that a lot of people do it.

Thanks everyone for the nice comments, I knew you were on the same rusty, shabby, (weird), wavelength as I am! I'm really getting into the combo of rustic and refined (well modified refined for me) now in my decorating. Who knows where it'll end! LOL As long as we're all having fun that's all that matters. :-)

Hhhmmmm. If you want something that truly looks like a Christmas tree in the fir/spruce mould, no, nothing stops at 20 feet high. However, there are a number of hollies that can be quite permanently sheared to that size, with the right equipment. In the upper south you could go with American holly but some more uncommon hollies might be both more easily shearable and better looking plants. I've seen pictures of 'Scepter' looking cone shaped. All hollies are a little slow when young, but then so are most conifers besides pines bred for forestry. Also, 'Scepter' or certain HIghclere hollies won't be hard to decorate because the leaves are smooth. Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1316017

Mitchdesj - your urns look wonderful! I have a wrought iron planter on the front porch that I am going to try a similar look - thanks for the idea. Also, kind of an upgrade on the tomato cage and topiary form suggestion, I clipped pics from an old cottage living - actually two different issues where the editor decorated her urns - one for fall, one for Christmas. She used the grapevine trees - the tall (3 ft.) slim ones. They sit in the urns and I am thinking both pics had magnolia leaves around the base of the tree. The Christmas pic she had some more greenery added in around the tree and a few ornaments. The fall one had ivy along with the magnolia leaves and small pumpkins/gourds placed in the urn also. Both look great. I like the topiary forms and we use tomato cages ourselves (upside down) in warmer months for some of our vines. But with nothing growing on them and during the daytime when not lit, they look a bit sparse. On the grapevine trees, you can also use lights. I was actually able to find the trees prelit. tina