If you spot a sea of green on Washington Street, you’ll know the Sequim Kiwanians have ushered in the holiday season with their annual Christmas tree sale.

Members sell trees at the Sequim Village Center from 10 a.m.-sunset until a few days before Christmas or until they sell out.

This year, they ordered four kinds of trees: noble, grand fir, Douglas-fir and natural or "Charlie Brown trees." They cost $14-$60 each.

"This year’s trees were cut the day before Thanksgiving, so they are fresh," said Shell McGuire, a Kiwanis member.

The sale and the annual bunting project are the club’s biggest fundraisers for projects that include:

_ Northwest Kiwanis Camp for People with Special Needs

_ Charities that include the Sequim Boys & Girls Club, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Jazz in the Olympics, plus Sequim Schools’ History Day, Science Camp, gift books and field trips

_ Bicycles for foster families, Boys & Girls Club members and First Teacher families

_ Computers for OlyPen’s computer recycling program.

Trees can be bought in off hours through an honor system: Select a tree, remove the price tag, insert the tag and check/cash in the envelope and mail it in.

Nurture a living tree

A free seminar about "The Care and Feeding of Living Christmas Trees" will be held at 11 a.m. Saturdays, Dec. 12-19 at Vision Landscape Nursery, 131 Kitchen-Dick Road, Sequim.

Learn all about how to nurture and enjoy a living Christmas tree inside and outside the home. Attendees receive a coupon for 15 percent off their choice of living Christmas tree, traditional or nontraditional.

Contact 683-2855 or visionnursery@olympus.net.

How to choose, care for tree

• Select a fresh tree. Grasp a branch and pull it toward you to see if needles come off. Then bounce the tree on its stump. Look for minimal green needle loss, but some loss of interior brown needles is normal.

• Water the tree. Before placing it in the stand, cut the trunk 1/2-inch from the bottom. Add nothing to the water. Keep the stand full and check it daily. The stand should hold at least 1 quart of water for every inch diameter of trunk.

Protect tree from fire:

• Use a sturdy stand.

• Place the tree away from heat sources.

• If buying an artificial tree, be sure it is fire-retardant.

• Discard any string of lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections.

• Unplug lights before going out or to bed.

• Never deck a tree with lit candles.

• Dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage or placed against the house.

Tips from the Washington State Fire Marshal