THE GREEN SCENE: Tree Shopping in the City

If you live in the city like I do, Christmas tree shopping typically means braving the very non-season-of-giving-vibing masses at the Home Depot, or haggling with an electric-saw-wielding dude on a dark street corner. But not this year.

Now, I can stroll peacefully through the decked-out streets of scenic South Philadelphia to East Passyunk’s fountain to what will, come March, be the city’s largest independent (and eco-friendly) garden center. At the 4,500 square-foot future Urban Jungle, owner and vertical gardening expert Curt Alexander is, right this very minute (from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily) selling Frazier and Douglas firs, evergreen plants, wreaths, and tree lights galore. He’s also taking orders for window boxes, Woolly Pockets (a super-cool indoor-outdoor “green picture wall”) and offering advice for landscaping your roof deck.  So, if you live in the city like I do, you’re beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

1526-30 East Passyunk Avenue, 215-952-0811, urbanjunglephila.com