Many turn to real Christmas trees as bright spot amid virus

Ani Sirois puts lights and decorations on the family's Christmas tree at her home on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020 in Portland, Ore. Sirois, a respiratory nurse, has spent months caring for coronavirus patients at a Portland hospital. But on a recent sunny day, COVID-19 seemed far away as she, her husband and their 2-year-old daughter roamed a Christmas tree farm in search of the perfect evergreen for a holiday season unlike any other. The family was tree-shopping nearly a week before Thanksgiving and, for the first time, they were picking their own tree instead of buying a pre-cut one. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

Workers throw bundled Christmas trees in a pile ready to be loaded onto trucks at McKenzie Farms on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2020 in Oregon City, Ore. Wholesale growers and small farms alike say customers are showing up earlier than normal and there are more of them. More Americans are staying home for the holidays amid coronavirus restrictions and want a new — or renewed — tradition to end a dreary year on a happier note. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

A helicopter harvests Christmas trees at McKenzie Farms on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2020 in Oregon City, Ore. Wholesale growers and small farms alike say customers are showing up earlier than normal and there are more of them. More Americans are staying home for the holidays amid coronavirus restrictions and want a new — or renewed — tradition to end a dreary year on a happier note. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

Tim Daley and son Jacob, 9 years, from Tualatin carry their freshly cut Christmas tree at Lee farms on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 in Tualatin, Ore. It's early in the season, but both wholesale tree farmers and small cut-your-own lots are reporting strong demand, with many opening well before Thanksgiving. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

Madison Irving, an employee at Lee farms carries a freshly cut Christmas tree for a client on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 in Tualatin, Ore. It's early in the season, but both wholesale tree farmers and small cut-your-own lots are reporting strong demand, with many opening well before Thanksgiving. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

Workers load Christmas trees onto trucks at McKenzie Farms on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2020 in Oregon City, Ore. Wholesale growers and small farms alike say customers are showing up earlier than normal and there are more of them. More Americans are staying home for the holidays amid coronavirus restrictions and want a new — or renewed — tradition to end a dreary year on a happier note. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

A worker holds a bundled Christmas tree ready for shipment at McKenzie Farms on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2020 in Oregon City, Ore. Wholesale growers and small farms alike say customers are showing up earlier than normal and there are more of them. More Americans are staying home for the holidays amid coronavirus restrictions and want a new — or renewed — tradition to end a dreary year on a happier note. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

Freshly cut Christmas trees are bundled for shipment at McKenzie Farms on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2020 in Oregon City, Ore. Wholesale growers and small farms alike say customers are showing up earlier than normal and there are more of them. More Americans are staying home for the holidays amid coronavirus restrictions and want a new — or renewed — tradition to end a dreary year on a happier note. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

Workers load a truck into the night with Christmas trees at McKenzie Farms on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2020 in Oregon City, Ore. Wholesale growers and small farms alike say customers are showing up earlier than normal and there are more of them. More Americans are staying home for the holidays amid coronavirus restrictions and want a new — or renewed — tradition to end a dreary year on a happier note. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

Josh and Jessica Ferrara shop for Christmas trees with son Jayce, 1 year and Jade, 3 years, at Sunnyview Christmas Tree farm on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 in Salem, Ore. It's early in the season, but both wholesale tree farmers and small cut-your-own lots are reporting strong demand, with many opening well before Thanksgiving. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

Ani Sirois places lights and decorations on the family's Christmas tree with daughter Ida, 2, and husband, Chadwick, at their home on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020 in Portland, Ore. Sirois, a respiratory nurse, has spent months caring for coronavirus patients at a Portland hospital. But on a recent sunny day, COVID-19 seemed far away as she, her husband and their 2-year-old daughter roamed a Christmas tree farm in search of the perfect evergreen for a holiday season unlike any other. The family was tree-shopping nearly a week before Thanksgiving and, for the first time, they were picking their own tree instead of buying a pre-cut one. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

Douglas Fir Christmas trees are seen ready for shipment at McKenzie Farms on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2020 in Oregon City, Ore. Wholesale growers and small farms alike say customers are showing up earlier than normal and there are more of them. More Americans are staying home for the holidays amid coronavirus restrictions and want a new — or renewed — tradition to end a dreary year on a happier note. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

Small Christmas trees ready for shipment to Cosco's are seen at McKenzie Farms on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2020 in Oregon City, Ore. Wholesale growers and small farms alike say customers are showing up earlier than normal and there are more of them. More Americans are staying home for the holidays amid coronavirus restrictions and want a new — or renewed — tradition to end a dreary year on a happier note. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)

Fields of Christmas trees at McKenzie Farms on Saturday, November 20, 2020 in Oregon City, Ore. Wholesale growers and small farms alike say customers are showing up earlier than normal and there are more of them. More Americans are staying home for the holidays amid coronavirus restrictions and want a new — or renewed — tradition to end a dreary year on a happier note. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein)