Condursos Garden Center sells more than 1,500 Christmas trees each season. The trees are displayed by size and variety, and are hung from the rafters of the garden center's outdoor building. Customers can walk among the trees to examine all sides.

"We hang about 300 trees at a time," General Manager Steve Michener said.

This season Condursos is featuring three varieties: Fraser fir, Douglas fir and a unique variety known as Canaan fir. The Canaan is described by the National Christmas Tree Association as "a relative newcomer to the Christmas tree market [that] has many similarities to both Fraser and balsam firs."

"It holds its needles very, very long and has that great Christmas time smell," Michener said about the Canaan's fragrant pine aroma.

To insure the trees are fresh, Condursos works "with a couple of different farms in Pennsylvania," Michener said.

The trees began arriving at the garden center the day before Thanksgiving, and the last shipment will be unloaded this week.

"They told us they were cut within two days of delivery," Michener said. "If they had come from Canada, they could be cut two weeks or more before they arrive."

Prices range from $40, for a 5-to 6-foot Canaan fir, to well over $100 for a 10-12-foot Douglas fir.

In addition to Christmas trees, Condursos also offers other holiday services.

"We sell everything you need for decorating your house," Michener said.

Garland, pine rope, poinsettias, gifts, lights, bows, candles and coffee are among the holiday choices. Additionally, Condursos sells decorated and undecorated wreaths. Upon request, the staff will decorate wreaths to order.

"We will also deliver Christmas trees, or wreaths, if you need that service," Michener noted. "And we have the best grave blankets in northern New Jersey. They are made of Noble fir from the West Coast. They lay soft. They are better. They stay fresh forever."

Owned and operated by Tony Condurso and Anthony Luciano, Condursos has been selling Christmas trees for more than 30 years.

"We sell thousands of poinsettias, too," Michener added.

Condursos is almost as busy in December as it is in May, employing a staff of roughly 40 for the holiday season.

"Mid-spring we employee about 50 people," Michener said. "This time of year, it's 35 to 40. It's a large staff."

Seven employees are dedicated to wreath decorating alone.

Located at 96 River Road in Montville, Condursos Garden Center open for the Christmas season Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.