The Shawnee Dispatch / 'O Tannenbaum...'

Archive for Wednesday, November 30, 2005

November 30, 2005

Making a decision to buy a Christmas tree this year requires either a yes or no answer.

Choosing which tree once you decide to buy can become the challenge.

Stephanie Stevenson and her fiancee D.J. Heath, both from Olathe, looked over a selection of Christmas trees Monday at Mondello's Nursery tree lot in Shawnee. After several stops looking at a variety of Wisconsin white and scotch pines along with some Douglas fir trees, the young couple made their choice on a scotch pine about six-feet tall. Heath added that it was his first real tree he has ever bought.

Guy Mondello, owner of the tree lot near 61st and Neiman Road, waited patiently nearby in his warm coveralls to help as the pair of tree shoppers walked around.

Mondello says he has been on the same lot for the past four years. He sells other plants throughout the warmer time of the year. The lot was the former home to another nursery, Vitali Tropicals, for about 25 years. Mondello's uncle Sal Vitali owned that.

The tress will be on the lot until Dec. 24. After that, according to Mondello, the remaining trees will become mulch.

So it's time to decide and choose.

Talking points

Do you think it’s worth it to shop on “Black Friday?”

“I didn’t go, because I knew there would be crowds and I didn’t want to deal with it. But I did see some things I wanted, and I thought I’d go get them the next day.”

— Walter Bramlage

More responses