DIY Life

Thanks, Anna, for your great Christmas tree-recycling tips. Here's one more: make your tree the foundation for a backyard brush pile.

Now, you might ask: why a brush pile? Answer: it encourages wildlife diversity. Yes, putting out a bird feeder is an important first step to attracting birds and other little critters. However, a brush pile will draw in many more. Plus they're easy to make, don't cost a dime, and they encourage true diversity in the landscape.

Want to give it a try? Here are some tips for creating a brush pile that critters will love.

1) Use something fairly substantial as the base for your pile. A Christmas tree is one idea, but you could also try an old wooden pallet, two or three short logs, or a couple old fence posts. This foundation will support the smaller stuff you stack on top. It will also let oxygen flow through, and prevent settling -- so that countless insects and other small creatures (like the baby anole pictured above) can scuttle in and make their homes there.

It was love at first sight: a humbly-sized Christmas tree hung with dried orange slices. This encounter took place on Saturday night, when I attended my town's annual winter festival. The tree had been entered in a Christmas tree decorating competition for local school children. The "orange tree" sure got my vote. What a pretty sight it made with all the Christmas lights reflecting brightly off the glistening citrus slices!

Later, I resolved to try it out for myself. If you want to have a go, you will need the following:

• three or four large oranges
• a sharp carving knife
• glitter and/or ground cinnamon (optional)
• fishing line or ribbon
  
• a needle or a pointy-tipped knife
  

Step 1) Slice the oranges crosswise in quarter-inch slices. Discard the ends.

Our baby is approaching fourteen months of age. She is a walking demolition machine. Before we go shopping for a Christmas tree this year, I figured it would make sense to do a little Web-surfing first, and see what steps I should take to toddler-proof our tree. I mean, is anything safe from a toddler? Maybe not. In fact, the more I think about it, I'm realizing the safest option might be a nice painting of a Christmas tree. Tacked up high out of her reach, naturally, like everything else in the house these days...

Anyway, here are some tips on toddler-proofing your tree from the readers at BabyNamesWorld:

• Invest in a flexible extended-length baby gate or put the tree inside a playpen or pack 'n' play.
• Get a small (two- or three-foot) tree or a small potted tree and keep in on a table. Use whatever you can (e.g. heavy furniture!) to keep your tot's curious fingers away from the bottom of the tree and the electric lights. This is very important for your child's safety!

• The more branches the better. They make your tree look natural...and they hide the pole in the center.
• Look for a sturdy metal stand with rubber tips on the feet, which will protect your floor.
• The more expensive trees have time-saving "hinged" branches. Spring for that if you can afford it.
• Buying online? Look for sites that offer high-res closeup pics so you know exactly what you're getting.
• Let me say again: you should not be able to see the pole!
• Consider whether or not to get a pre-lit tree. Yes, pre-lit adds to the fake-factor. But, hey, in for a penny in for a pound. Some pre-lit trees nowadays come with a remote, so you can switch at the press of a button from clear to colored lights. Wow.

So, which is better: fake or real? I'm not getting into the whole issue of the environment here. As far as I'm concerned, it's a personal thing. But if you want to weigh your choice, here's a handy list of the pros and cons in the real vs. fake debate.