Updated 1 year review; original below. At one year this still looks excellent and very happy with it. Packed and stored in the original box. Minimal fluffing on the 2nd year just to redirect branches, all bulbs still working and the flock has not yellowed to any capacity and still holding firm to the tree. Still looks excellent, very elegant, thin and perfect for the small corner space. Not too overwhelming to compete with a primary tree, but not lost in a large room and a great focal point when you want to bring christmas to other spaces. Base still looks excellent as well, no cracks, chips or discoloring and brings an outdoor flare. (Note: 1st pic is 2nd year) Orig Review: I just finished my "man cave", which consisted of closing up the 800 SF attic with a Den/Office, seating area with reclining sofa, big screen TV, bathroom and a utility room for tying flies, projects and storing fishing gear. It took me about a year, and now I wanted to finish it off for the holidays with a secondary tree. Since my room is outdoors themed, I wanted to get around a 5' tree that was not the cookie cutter triangle and would not overwhelm the space. I watched the sales last year at the big box stores, and others and all I found were the cheap trees with branches that did not look natural and or just too large. As a kid, I have always been a bit psychotic about my trees, so I was tasked in grabbing the snowmachine and picking our tree every year, and it often took me days to find the perfect one. So, especially noting I never really found anything when looking directly, as you can imagine, shopping online proved scary. When I saw this, It appeared perfect, especially with the birch stand, had great reviews, and the free returns, so I took the gamble on the 4'5" tree. I am glad I did. It looks every bit as good as in the pictures, with branches/needles simulating spruce, and like the high end trees, also has the secondary filler branches (the ones many use as the primary branches) near the spine, so they are undetectable. The tree also looks natural, void of that thick canopy and telltale cut triangle shape, but not so much that it looks sparse. The base is porcelain or similar, so you must be careful, but the texture and paint of the outside is excellent in representation of a birch tree. People have commented about the top being yellow and while it is, it is also not shouting at you, though it is certainly a raised voice. Keep in mind this is supposed to be a cut birch tree round, so the "cut" portion of the tree will be a tanish yellow color and while the paint on this cut portion is nowhere near the quality of the birch surround, pulling the branches down to a proper position does mask it greatly, so aesthetically, it does not impact the tree at all and the color does represent what cut rounds look like. In fact, I do like this base, again as it fits my outdoor theme and it looks nicer than a basket, those plastic looking pots, or basic stand. No need for anything to drape over and hide it, but instead enhances this tree visually. The flock is moderate, but not too thick. It does have more uniform coverage than expected, but you still can see the green and it does look great. An advantage not considered, is it attaches to the lights and wire, so that is now perfectly hidden. BTW, I was worried about it not having enough lights, but that is not an issue and it gooks great lit up as well. Anyway, while I had to do some cleaning up of small debris, and pulls some chunks out, the flock seems well secured and it was not flaking, but instead just seemingly part of the cleanup process after manufactured. I am still worried about yellowing, but won't know that for a year, or 5. But for $89, I am more than pleased. I will add pics once Thanksgiving comes around as I still have to make some ornaments using live wood cookie slices from my property with salmon flies my late father tied years ago. Together, this will give that great outdoors look to match my Den and where I live. I am excited because I had planned to get bear and moose type ornaments, but realized I would easily be in it for $200, and in searching, I inadvertently came across an ornament someone laser etched a fly into a cookie slice and it gave me the idea to use my father's flies. I have hundreds, and they still have yet to catch a large rainbow or pike, so I will take about 20 and do it for free. (Sorry Dad, I know you would have told me "I was nuts", but wherever you are now, I think you can find the value and memories this will provide.) Anyway, I will add pics soon, but wanted to get this review up for anyone that is looking for a secondary tree that looks quite elegant and is of top notch quality. Get it now before prices go up!