It’s always much more fun to put up the Xmas tree than take it down. It is one of those January chores that I tend to put off. This year I had an official excuse to extend the stay of our beautiful Xmas tree until last weekend when the city held its annual Mulchfest. Xmas trees are collected in parks and chippers are brought in. The trees are churned into mulch for the parks. They also hand out bags of mulch to New Yorkers for their gardens and window boxes and the street trees that so many folks tend to.

heading to the park

Oona’s friend Jackson helped me out with this January project and we walked our tree over to Tompkins Square Park. The smell of Xmas trees engulfed the park and wafted out to the avenues. What a happy smell! We were also treated to a sighting of the resident red-tailed hawk swooping in and around the ancient trees.

the chipper and the trees

fragrant pine mulch

I picked this forlorn little street tree for our mulch.

I hope it helps