because we have to have a real "tree"

When you have to go to a place like this to buy a potted evergreen because you are a purist and you have to have a real tree in a land that does not celebrate Christmas...

...and because of the drought (best we can figure) there are no evergreens being sold for landscaping purposes this year, you are forced to bring home a cone-shaped shrub.

They don't seem to mind.

After all, when hung with colored lights and our homemade paper-chain and our treasured family ornaments, any old green plant will do.  So much for being purists.  Bonus: I won't be wiping sap from every bulb this year.