Tree flocking a lost art — except in Monessen

By EMILY BENNETT DILULLO

ebennett@yourmvi.com

Everyone dreams of a white Christmas, but plenty of holidays go by without a speckle of snow to be seen. While the ushering in of the Christmas and holiday season brings with it age-old traditions and customs, one of the quirkiest practices is the spraying down of Christmas trees with a rayon and adhesive mixture –– in order to satisfy the longing for a snowy holiday. 

“Flocking,” as the practice is called, dresses trees up with the artificial, snow-like material. When decked out in ornaments and lit up with bulbs, there’s an undeniable, magical nostalgia that accompanies a well-flocked tree. 

For Christmas tree lovers, finding a professional to flock your tree can be difficult. Hardly any Christmas tree farms still have flocking capabilities, and very few flocking facilities are still functioning throughout the country. 

However, the search stops in Monessen for Mon Valley residents at Joseph’s Nursery and Garden Center, a family-operated business that’s been in town for 65 years. 

Stan Malarbi has been the designated tree flocker for 35 years. This week, he has 17 trees to flock for families from all across the region. 

To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Wednesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.