The Going Rate: Christmas Trees

There are only four places on Mercer Island to get your holiday tree this year, but each has its own special holiday magic.

and end both have about 25 trees near the front door of the store, for quick, convenient pick-up. If you're a single person looking for a no-frills Noble or Douglas fir tree that is anywhere from 3 to 6 feet tall,  QFC has you covered. An employee of the store noted that Kroger (which owns QFC) gets their trees twice a week from Donna's Trees, which has two Christmas tree farms in Auburn and Bothell. The prices range from $16.99-$40 per tree, depending on type and height.

QFC also has specials on tree lights, tinsel and garland, from $1.99-$5.99, and their candy canes are a sweet deal at 10 for $10.

Only the North end has traditionally had Christmas trees for sale in their lot, and this year they've brought in more trees than ever.

"We've started with 220 trees this year," said Jenny Reynolds, manager of the North end Rite Aid. "It's our goal to sell out by Christmas, which we always do … we've only got a few evergreen wreaths left and its still early in the month."

Rite Aid gets its Douglas, Grand and Noble firs from McKenzie Farms in Oregon, while their wreaths come from Julius Rosso, who has a farm in Washington. Rite Aid's tree sizes are more extensive, with "tabletop" size 2-foot trees, all the way up to 8-foot bushy, broad trees that require some work to get them atop your car. Trees range in price from $19.99-$59.99, again depending on size.

The offers a deluxe tree-picking experience in the Farmer's New World Life parking lot. According to club member and "tree guru" Craig Fetters, they've been selling Christmas trees on Mercer Island for over 30 years.

"Farmer's has been donating their lot to us and allowing us to use their electricity for free for 11 years," said Fetters. "But before that we were at the old Safeway store and before that we were in a car lot where Walgreens is now."

The Lions decorate their lot with lights, and have Christmas music playing as the six volunteers and a few scouts from Boy Scout Troop 647 help families choose a tree, then trim the bottom branches and tie it to their car. There's a wide selection of Douglas, Noble and Frasier firs, from a 3-foot mini tree to 12-foot tall behemoth. Prices range from $9 to $135 per tree, and the Lions sell evergreen garland for $1.50 a foot and $14.50 for a wreath or $20 for white Christmas roses in a pot.

Fetters said that until 2008, the Lions Club sold about 1,500 trees a year. Now, however, they only buy 900 trees from Hunter Tree Farm in Shelton, because the big winter storm in 2008 left the club with too many unsold trees.

"Last year we sold out, though, which is typical," he said. "We make sure a majority of the money stays on Mercer Island, and goes to support the programs and emergency fund.