By DENNIS J. WRIGHT
dwright@PhoenixvilleNews.com

PHOENIXVILLE — While many holiday shoppers are scouring the department stores looking for sales, others are out in search of another type of bargain — the family holiday tree.

Despite the recent unpredictable weather, area tree farms and garden centers have available an abundance of trees ready to be a part of the holiday centerpiece in most homes.

For the past 11 years, Petrucci's Ice Cream & Water Ice transforms from its ice cream and water ice business into a Christmas Tree market. However, owner John Colarusso said some customers still come by expecting to get some frosty treats.

"We will have some people stopping in for ice cream," said Colarusso. "However, instead of leaving with ice cream, they leave with a tree."

With a delivery of close to 700 Douglas and Frazer firs, Colarusso said he'll also have wreaths and cemetery blankets available.

"We'll be customizing the cemetery wreaths for our customers. Every year this continues to grow, just like the trees themselves," he said. "We are expecting to see plenty of our friends and customers, and it's

nice to know that we are a part of their holiday tradition."

Over at the Farmer's Daughter, Spring City, they are anticipating another successful Christmas tree sales season, according to Chris Fry, owner.

"We got in over 450 trees," said Fry. "We got in more this year because we sold out so quickly. Everything from Frazer and Douglas Firs. We have a great selection and we can't wait for everyone to come out to see them."

She said their Pennsylvania-grown trees will run from $39.99 and up.

"We're sticking with pre-cuts this season," she said. "We won't have any live trees this time around."

Fry said their Christmas store will feature some new items this year.

"We have Christmas decorations, ranging from $1.49 to $150, along with various chocolates and candy for the holidays in our Christmas store," she said."

John Yeager of Yeager's Farm Market, Kimberton, said he has 3,000 to 4,000 trees available, including Frazer and Douglas Firs, between both two farms.

"This'll be our busiest time of the year," said Yeager. "Although we do sell trees year-round, we will be extremely busy now."

Yeager said that they'll be running wagon rides on the weekends and sometimes during the week.

"We are ready if any school or special interest group is interested in coming out for the day to pick out their trees," he said. "Our pre-cut trees are reasonably pre-priced."

Yeager's Farm Market also has a Christmas shop inside, featuring holiday decorations and ornaments, along with an assortment of candles, jams, jellies, cider and apples.

Rob Varner of Varner's Tree Farm, Collegeville, said they have a wide variety of White Pine, Douglas and Frazer Firs, and some Blue Spruce.

"We have some good looking trees this season," said Varner.

With five acres of trees available to cut, Varner said they cut trees on a daily basis, priced between $5.25 to $8.95 per foot.

"We'll be constantly running our fields with our wagons to give the customers a saw so they can select their own tree," he said. "We'll shake it and bale it for them for free. We also have three teams of Belgian horses that take people out, along with tractor rides."

Varner's Tree Farm has a wreath and gift shop, highlighted by a unique train display, and free hot chocolate.

With 1,200 North Carolina-grown trees on their premises, Colonial Gardens, Phoenixville, also offers poinsettias, wreaths and roping in their Christmas shop.

According to Polly Egee, the average price for a tree is $25-$135, and the variety this year is Douglas and Frazer Firs along with some Concolours. Most trees range between five- to 11-feet tall.

"Each tree over $20 sold gets a $15 certificate for the Christmas shop," said Egee. "We've been doing this for years. You bring your tree back and they'll get the $15 certificate."

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Petrucci's is located at 472 Nutt Road, Phoenixville. Hours are noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, their phone number is 610-933-9390.

Farmer's Daughter is located at 3190 Schuylkill Road, Spring City. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. For more information, their phone number is 610-495-4555.

Yeager's Farm Market is located at 1015 Pike Springs Road, Kimberton. Hours are 9 a.m. to dark for cutting down your own trees, Monday through Saturday. Their regular hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every night and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, their phone number is 610-933-7379.

Varner's Tree Farm is located at 746 South Trappe Road, Collegeville. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for cutting down your own trees, Monday through Sunday. Their regular hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every night and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, their phone number is 610-489-8878.

Colonial Gardens is located along Route 724, Phoenixville. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, their phone number is 610-948-9755.