Many island residents are likely to celebrate Christmas this year without a tree — not even the traditional island century plant.
A combination of prudent ordering on the part of retailers and Hurricane Georges has resulted in a dearth of traditional, artificial and even customary island Christmas trees, according to the Daily News.
Hurricane Georges knocked down all the century plants, according to Rafe Boulon, endangered species coordinator at the fish and wildlife division. The century plants, which often are used in place of traditional evergreen trees, fell down and broke during the storm, Boulon said.
One suggestion: Use an inkberry tree, or several small ones — also traditional in the Virgin Islands, according to St. John resident Melville Samuel.
Samuel said when he was young, his family used the inkberry tree by sticking candles on the thorns and hanging hand-made ornaments from the branches.