Live Christmas trees liven up Manhattan Beach tree lighting


Kathleen Paralusz and husband Brad Jacobson with Manhattan Beach Mayor Richard Montgomery and wife Diane who is holding Kathleen’s and Brad’s 15 month old daughter Isabella.
One hundred living Christmas trees livened up the Manhattan Beach pier last Wednesday for the city’s annual lighting of its electric Christmas tree atop the Roundhouse Aquarium. The living trees, which remained until last Sunday, were on loan, at the request of Mayor Richard Montgomery, from the Living Christmas Tree Company.

Scott “Scotty Claus” Martin, a friend of the mayor’s, founded The Living Christmas Tree Company three years ago and now maintains a farm of over 3,000 trees at a former Mobil oil refinery site in Carson. The trees grow in containers and are tended to by “tree helpers” from South Bay Vocational Services, which finds work for adults with disabilities.

Five varieties of trees range in size from two to seven feet and are rent from between $25 and $125, plus $30 to $40 for pick up and delivery. The varieties are Monterrey Pine, Aleppo Pine, Blue Cedar, Leylandi Cypress and Little Sequoia.

Customers are encouraged to decorate the trees, but asked not to flock them.

“We also discourage tinsel. It’s hard to get off,” Martin said. He said the trees are bar coded so families can request the same tree, year after year.

For more about Living Christmas Trees, visit www.livingchristmas.com. ER
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