Where Christmas trees live on
When Darcy and Terry Dickens moved to the “Barn House” in rural Monona in 2016, they started a new tradition of placing a live, potted evergreen on their porch—a small tree that would be planted the following spring in a grove near their home. This is the 2021 tree.
The tradition began in 2016 with this tree.
Darcy decorates the “porch tree” each year, placing it in a rustic container like a metal bucket or crate. She also adorns the branches with lights and adds festive touches, such as this old fashioned red sleigh.
2018's tree featured a sled and ice skates.
Pictured is one of the porch trees a few years after it was planted.
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
For many, taking down the Christmas tree—be it real or artificial—marks the unofficial end of the holiday season. But for Darcy and Terry Dickens’ Christmas trees, it’s only the beginning.
When the couple moved to the “Barn House” in rural Monona in 2016, they started a new tradition of placing a live, potted evergreen on their porch—a small tree that would be planted the following spring near their home.
“We knew we wanted to start planting trees, including evergreen trees, on the property, so this idea developed,” Darcy explained.
Darcy decorates the “porch tree” each year, placing it in a rustic container like a metal bucket or crate. She also adorns the branches with lights and adds festive touches around the tree, such as an old fashioned red sleigh, ice skates and skis.
She said the most challenging aspect of the tradition is finding the tree itself.
“It actually is quite difficult to find a living, potted evergreen around this time of year, as most greenhouses sell pre-cut Christmas trees and the tree farms have cut your own trees,” Darcy shared. “We have had luck, though, every year finding one at a variety of places.”
“We actually enjoy the ‘hunt’ for the perfect one each year,” she added. “This year, we found a really cute one wrapped in burlap in Decorah.”
Although Darcy and Terry will soon be moving from the “Barn House,” the tradition will live on. The couple’s oldest daughter and her family are purchasing the property and plan to have a porch tree of their own to plant each year.
“We look forward to watching our little grove of trees grow, as well as our grandchildren, on the barn property for years to come,” Darcy said.
