Whether "Christmas in July" dates back to an 1892 French opera or a summer celebration at a North Carolina campground in the 1930s, the work that goes into making your holiday traditions special is a 12-month proposition for area tree farms.

 

For the past several weeks, employees at Aissen Tree Farm in Pilsen have been shearing the new growth from thousands of trees to help control their shape. Each tree also contributes to the collection of pinecones used in some of the fresh greenery decorations the farm sells during the holiday season.

 

Tammy Aissen says the weather has been unusual this year. The March blizzard had the potential to damage some of the trees' lower branches, while the heavy April rains were less than ideal for their root systems. Aissen adds that nearby hail storms could have really caused issues for them. While some tree farms in central Wisconsin are battling the recent hot, dry weather, she feels the trees in this area have never looked better.

Aissen says the shearing process usually takes about two months to complete, with a goal of finishing by Aug. 1.

Wisconsin ranks fifth in the nation for Christmas tree production, harvesting nearly 2 million trees each year worth about $50 million annually, according to Farm Flavor.

Christmas is now less than five months away.