Wisconsin Public Radio

12/09/2025

Dozens of 8- and 9-foot fir trees are ready for Christmas at Dave Tubbin's plant nursery in southwestern Wisconsin.

But the bestsellers this year are the 5-foot potted spruce that customers can plant in the spring.

Tubbin said Second Nature at Reads Creek sold 50 of these "living" Christmas trees before the business even opened for pre-cut tree sales at the end of November. It's a long way from his family's first season four years ago, when they set out a dozen leftover landscaping trees for decoration around the nursery.

"People tried to buy them and I thought, 'Gosh, we don't even have a price on them,'" Tubbin recalled. "We had no idea that people wanted that. But as the demand continued to grow for it, we just kept bringing them in."

Tubbin is one of many tree sellers who are reporting new interest in potted Christmas trees. The option is appealing to both eco-conscious consumers and people looking to beautify their property after the holidays.

Read more: https://www.wpr.org/news/living-christmas-trees-evergreens-replant-holidays

Reporting: Hope Kirwan, for Harvest Public Media
Photos: Angela Major

12/08/2025

The Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance works to reduce the impact of human-caused shrinkage of its beloved lake.

12/08/2025

A new law in Wisconsin aims to fight the crime of “sextortion” — a manipulative act that’s on the rise, particularly among young people.

A new law in Wisconsin aims to fight the crime of “sextortion” — a manipulative act that's on the rise, particularly among young people.

12/08/2025

A new agreement will allow the city of Two Rivers to continue receiving nuclear energy from the nearby Point Beach Nuclear Plant.

12/08/2025

After a year of budget cuts, UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin says existing funds and growing private and philanthropic support will fund the new College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence.

After a year of budget cuts, UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said existing funds and growing private and philanthropic support will fund the new College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence.

12/08/2025

Maureen McCollum of WPR's Wisconsin Life will be speaking as part of WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR's event tomorrow: Digital Narratives. Check it out and sign up!

12/08/2025

A heartwarming Swedish novel and a book about a frozen vegetable family business make the list of Daniel Goldin's top picks for the year.

A heartwarming Swedish novel and a book about a frozen vegetable family business make the list of Goldin's top picks for the year.

12/08/2025

Journalist Katie Thornton took a deep dive on the invasive sea lamprey that once wreaked havoc on the Great Lakes fish population. The ‘vampire fish’ kills aquatic life by stabbing its prey with a razor sharp tongue. She says it could be making a comeback.

12/08/2025

Wisconsin’s state crime labs received fewer total cases in 2024 than in 2023, but took longer on average to turn around DNA casework and toxicology, according to a new report from the state Department of Justice.

12/08/2025

Some tree farms in the central U.S. are selling more potted Christmas trees as people seek out an eco-friendly option or look to get more than one use out of their evergreens.

12/08/2025

Workloads are surging more than ever before — largely due to near-constant policy changes from the administration amid an immigration crackdown, said Aissa Olivarez, legal director at the Community Immigration Law Center.

As attorneys try to navigate the changes, they're also dealing with clients' increased fear and anxiety.

Over the past year, President Trump's administration has radically changed the immigration landscape in the United States. Meanwhile, Wisconsin's immigration attorneys are feeling strained as they try to keep up.

12/08/2025

About 47 percent of first graders scoring below the 25th percentile.

About 36 percent of Wisconsin’s youngest students are below the 25th percentile for reading, according to the Department of Public Instruction’s first literacy screening.