TALL TREES: When it comes to Christmas...

TALL TREES: When it comes to Christmas trees, the malls and amusement parks put on the biggest shows, above. But while the Westin South Coast Plaza, Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm have their trees hauled in from a forest, Crystal Court and Fashion Island haul them from storage and assemble them like puzzles. . . . “It’s not that live trees are hard to get,” says Amy Bloomberg at Fashion Island. “It’s that live trees die halfway through the season. And we got complaints from environmentalists. You just can’t win.”

A HELPING HAND: If the housekeeper’s too busy to do the tree this year, you can have one delivered, lushly pre-decorated by the Ritz-Carlton’s floral decorator, Chris Lindsay. A noble fir with lights and imported ornaments costs from $750 to $950, depending on the height. . . . The new service is a response to requests from guests impressed by the hotel’s holiday decor, Ritz-Carlton spokeswoman Linda Adams says. “People run out of time. You know how busy people are during the holidays.”

GREEN CHRISTMAS: On the other hand, if you’re concerned about the environment, try the Ikea furniture store in Tustin. From Thursday through Sunday, Ikea will rent you a five- to eight-foot noble fir for $20, then hand back $10 (or a $20 shopping credit) when you return it. . . . The returned trees will be ground into free mulch for customers, and a new tree will be planted for each one rented. “Nowadays, we should be as thankful and appreciative of the tree as for gifts beneath it,” says a spokesman.

DANGER: Most pet owners are worried about protecting the Christmas tree from the pet, but they should worry about the pet as well. . . . Grace Matsuura, a Garden Grove veterinarian and president of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Assn., says nibbling and swallowing tinsel can cause major health problems for dogs and cats, and chewing electrical cords can be fatal. So can chocolate ornaments. For dogs and cats, chocolate is poison.

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Whoa, Tannenbaum!

Orange County’s five-tallest Christmas trees, in feet:

Crystal Court: 93

Fashion Island: 90

Westin South Coast Plaza: 85

Disneyland: 66

Knott’s Berry Farm: 45

Sources: Individual locations