All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Jason, Shannon, and Eli Van Eschen at their tree lot.
Families in search of a live Christmas tree have their pick of options, but each December many find themselves at Creekside Nursery's Christmas Tree lot at 95th Street and Niwot Road.
"We draw new people every year, but we've also had a lot of repeat customers, some even from out of state." said co-owner and Niwot High graduate Shannon Von Eschen, who spoke between helping shoppers at the end of a busy weekend day.
The lot provides a range of both Colorado native varieties as well as those from other states."We grow some of the trees at our nursery in Boulder off of 61st and Valmont," Von Eschen said. "But for the fresh cut trees, the majority of the ones people want aren't grown here in Colorado. We have to have relationships with providers that have great stuff, with consistent quality and practices that align with our values."
At Creekside's lot, tree shoppers have their choice of experiences. They can select a traditional tree with a new trunk cut made just after purchase that activates it to start drinking water. Customers can also purchase a root-connected and plantable tree, including unique Colorado-proven specimens such as slower growing Swiss stone pine.
As another option, families can harvest their own tree in one of a pair of fields – one with trees grown and rooted on the lot and a second with much desired out of state trees that were repositioned (very firmly) into the ground. Their website even suggests cutters visit after dark for the ultimate experience and come prepared with their own headlamp and bow saw.
"It's a lot of manual labor but people really enjoy it. We create it as an experience for families who don't want to do the drive anymore. Maybe they have younger kids, but the kids get cold and don't want to go all the way up to the mountains and hike in the snow. They drive a little closer, maybe take a sled, take a bow saw and lay in the dirt. I've seen hundreds and hundreds of families do it. They have a great time."
A personal, family experience
Our family missed our annual drive to the mountains near Fort Collins, and intrigued by the lot, decided we'd purchase from Creekside. We arrived after dark, and as we explored the rows of options Von Essen followed us. She helped us decide between types of trees and, when my daughter expressed a preference for noble firs while I was drawn to pines, helped us find one we both liked.
As part of the process, we were able to meet her husband Jason, who identified a couple of options for us. We also met their 10-year-old son Eli, who seemed to be as enamored of trees as his parents were and was making a point out of learning their names and the differences between varietals.
The nursery and tree lot epitomizes what a family business is. Its roots go back more than a decade. When Jason was his son's current age, he sold small perennials and trees "lemonade stand-style" with a cardboard sign on the weekends in Boulder. Shannon Von Eschen knew him then, and the pair grew up together, marrying when she was 19 and he was 20.
Now they're supported by other family as they run the stand. On weekends Shannon's father, who bears a striking resemblance to Santa, works the stand while Eli makes the perfect elf.
"When you buy here, you're choosing to support a single family," she said. " We operate the lot seven days a week and when we're not here it's only because we couldn't make it work. We have to take him to school, for example. But we started it because we love it, and we'll continue to do it as long as the community loves it too."
Choosing and caring for Christmas trees
Von Eschen has grown and sold plenty of Christmas trees. With her experience, she gave us some tips for choosing the best tree and ensuring it will stay healthy and full once home:
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