For any Bermudians shopping for a last-minute Christmas tree, there are several deals to be had on evergreens ? that is if there are any trees left.

Christmas tree suppliers throughout the Island are reporting that they have reduced the prices on their trees just in time for Christmas Eve.

But despite 11,000 trees being imported for this year?s holiday season, vendors are also warning would-be buyers that pickings may be very slim come Christmas Eve.

?We sold out three or four days after we got our trees,? said a representative at the Market Place?s Shopping Centre, which was the first tree dealer scratched off yesterday?s list for last-minute Christmas tree shopping.

Next we spoke to Wendell Simons, the inventory and debt controller at Gorham?s Ltd, yesterday morning.learned that the entire selection of Christmas trees had all been reduced from their original prices which had varied by size with a six foot tree going for $64 while a top end nine foot Canadian Balsam could be bought for $80. But a lucky last-minute shopper could select any of the remaining trees for $49.88, irrespective of size, said Mr. Simons.

But unfortunately as of yesterday afternoon, a Gorham?s sales representative said that they had sold out of all their trees ? all four containers of them.

Mr. Simons did add though that he did have a seven foot tree which had sprouted. It was his hope that he potentially could plant this anomalous Balsam to use as a Christmas tree next year.

Any late shoppers at Aberfeldy Nursery, on the other hand, may be able to find a tree on Christmas eve, and at even better prices. Though there might not be much to please a picky shopper.

?We sell almost all of our trees through people pre-ordering them in September, so we know exactly how much to order,? said a sales representative at the nursery. ?We?re pretty much out of them now. There?s just a few left that people don?t want.?