Tree farms beckon … and families respond

Chuck Schramek pulled up Thursday afternoon to the Rex Christmas Tree Farm south of Atlanta with his wife Sue, daughter Alexa, and their black lab, Mable Gail.

A half-hour later, they had a freshly cut, 10-foot Virginia pine in the back of their Dodge Ram pickup.

For 10 years, the Schrameks, who live in nearby Stockbridge, have been cutting down their Christmas tree on Thanksgiving Day.

An artificial tree won’t do.

“They don’t smell good,” Sue Schramek said.

“It doesn’t get you in the holiday spirit,” Alexa added.

Danny and Cheri Hart of McDonough were hoping to start a tradition. They usually buy an artificial tree but decided to visit the Rex farm Thursday. “We just thought it would be nice to get a real one this year,” Cheri Hart said.

They brought their four children —- Dylan, Savannah, Cheridan and Caedan —- and the children’s grandmother, Nancy Penick, and great-grandmother, Patricia Whidden.

After seeing their 9-foot Carolina Sapphire cut down in the field, Dylan, 9, now wants a saw for Christmas.

As they head into the critical tree-selling season, Christmas tree farmers across metro Atlanta are hoping more families like the Schrameks and Harts insist on the real deal.

So far, tree farmers appear to have dodged one major concern in the broader agricultural community: Christmas trees have not been dramatically affected by the North Georgia drought.

The trees at the Rex farm have not grown as fast as normal in the past couple of years, but there still are plenty of healthy specimens, said Laura Jackson, whose family owns the farm.

Rex has a good supply of 5-foot tall trees, Jackson said. It also has enough of the really tall trees, 15 to 20 feet. “Only so many people are crazy enough to want one [that tall],” she said.

The 7- to 10-foot trees, though, could go fast, Jackson said. With taller ceilings in new houses, these have become a popular size, but the drought has kept some 5-footers from growing into that class, she said.

“If we had a good rainy season, those 5-foot trees would get up there for next year,” Jackson said.

Debbie Durden, whose family owns Berry Patch Farms in Woodstock, said growth might have slowed on some of her trees, too, but she hasn’t seen any damage from the drought.

“I’m sure we had enough rain, because they look good,” Durden said. “I think they just don’t grow as much.”

At Hunters’ Christmas Tree Farm in Milton, tree heights are unaffected, but the tops aren’t quite as full as usual, said Brooke Hunter. The bigger question this year is the economy. The Hunter family hopes a visit to their tree farm is a tradition people will continue.

“It becomes an experience, rather than just going to a lot to purchase a tree,” Brooke Hunter said.

Thanksgiving Day sales were off to a good start despite the economic downturn at Thompson’s Tree Farm in Lawrenceville. As at many other farms, the trees hadn’t grown as fast this year but still looked healthy, said Denise Thompson.

The first hour they were open on Thursday, the Thompson family sold 50 trees.

People still come out to buy trees, Denise Thompson said, because “it’s a family outing they can do together and make a memory.”

GUIDE TO TREE FARMS

Berry Patch Farms. 786 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. Leyland cypress $7.50 per foot. Precut Fraser fir. $10 per foot. Wreaths, hot cider, hayrides daily, funnel cakes on weekends. No dogs allowed. 2-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 28 and Saturdays-Sundays. Through Dec. 14. 770-926-0561, www.berrypatchfarms.net.

Berry’s Tree Farm. 90 Mount Tabor Road, Covington. Leyland cypress, cedar, Virginia pine, Carolina Sapphire, Murray cypress, 5-15 feet. $35 and more. Precut Fraser fir. Flocked trees, wreaths, garland, decorations. Snacks available Saturdays and Sundays. Train rides daily, $2 per person. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Through Dec. 24. 770-786-1370, www.berrystreefarm.com.

Bottoms’ Christmas Tree Farm. 5880 John Burruss Road, Cumming. Virginia pines, Carolina Sapphires, Leyland cypress: all 4-12 feet, $6 foot. Red cedar, 6-10 feet, $6 foot. Precut Fraser firs $8 foot. Wreaths, $15-$25. Complimentary hot apple cider, roasted marshmallows and banana bread. Wagon rides on Saturdays. Trees for Troops participant. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Nov. 29. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays; 3-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Closed Sundays. Dec. 1-Dec. 20. 770-889-5235, www.bottomstreefarm.com.

Brown’s Christmas Tree Farm. 86 Minter Drive, Hampton. Virginia pine up to 8 feet; Carolina Sapphire up to 9 feet; Leyland cypress up to 10 feet. $3.50-$4.50 per foot. Free hayrides on Saturdays and Sundays. Santa Claus 1-5 p.m. on weekends through Dec. 14. Pony rides ($4) 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Thanksgiving weekend and weekends through Dec. 14. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 28 and Saturdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays; noon-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Nov. 29-Dec. 21. 770-946-9163, www.brownstrees.com.

Coker Tree Farm. 2280 Macland Road, Marietta. Leyland cypress, Murray cypress, Carolina Sapphire and red cedar: all up to 10 feet. $6 and up per foot. Also, precut Fraser firs. 3-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Through Dec. 21. 770-424-8047, www.cokertreefarm.com.

Cooper’s Christmas Tree Farm. 5577 Winder Highway, Braselton. Leyland cypress $5 per foot, red cedar $4 per foot. Precut Fraser fir. Handmade wreaths and decorations, petting zoo. 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily, through Dec. 24. 770-967-6175, www.cooperstreefarm.com.

Deerwoods Christmas Tree Farms. 1109 Henry Scott Road, Ball Ground. Virginia pine, $25; Scotch pine, $25 and up; Leyland cypress (up to 20 feet), Carolina Sapphire, Naylor’s blue, white pine: all $6 per foot. Precut Fraser fir, concolor fir, blue spruce, Douglas fir, all up to 15 feet. Also fresh wreaths, Christmas shop, tree snow flocking, free hayrides and visits with Santa Claus on weekends, hot cider and hot chocolate. Credit cards accepted. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Through Dec. 25. 770-479-1387.

Ed’s Christmas Trees. 7995 Spence Road, Fairburn. Leyland cypress (Silverdust), Silver Smoke and Carolina Sapphire, 4-23 feet. $16 per tree and up. Precut Fraser fir. Gift shop, honey. 1-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Through Dec. 24. 770-969-2142, www.edschristmastrees.com.

Fourakre Christmas Tree Farm. 13887 Upper Woolsey Road, Hampton. Virginia pine, 4-20 feet, $10-$70; Leyland cypress, 4-18 feet, $20-$160; Carolina Sapphire 4-18 feet, $20-$160; Blue Ice 4-18 feet, $20-$160; Georgia cedar 4-16 feet, $4-$60. Precut Fraser firs, 5-12 feet, $30-$250. Wreaths, garlands and Christmas gift shop. Noon-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Through Dec. 24. 770-946-9112.

Homestead Christmas Tree Farm. 3850 Ga. 81 W., Hampton. Virginia pine (4-14 feet), Leyland cypress (5-18 feet), white pine, Carolina Sapphire, Blue Ice and red cedar, all $3-$8 per foot. Precut Fraser fir. 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Through Dec. 24. 770-707-0854, www.christmastreehome.com.

Hunter’s Christmas Tree Farm. 14680 Wood Road, Milton. Leyland cypress, Murray cypress and Carolina Sapphire up to 12 feet. $5-$9 per foot. Precut Fraser firs start at $6 per foot. Wreaths and garlands. Complimentary hot chocolate and cookies. Santa and free hay rides on weekends. Trees for Troops program participant. Credit cards accepted. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 28 and Saturdays; 3-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; closed Sundays. Through Dec. 14. 770-475-0713, www.hunterschristmastreefarm.com.

Kinsey Family Farm. 7170 Jot-em Down Road, Gainesville. Leyland cypress 6-10 feet; $6 a foot. Taller cypress $7-$10 a foot. Precut Fraser fir, blue spruce and concolor in water. Live trees Blue Ice, Norway spruce and Green Giant. Wagon rides Fridays-Sundays. Marshmallow roast and free hot cider. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Through Dec. 20. 770-887-6028, www.kinseyfamilyfarm.com.

Lovell Tree Farm. 291 Crawford Road, Senoia. Leyland cypress 7-8 feet tall. $6 a foot. Precut Fraser fir. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 28 and Saturdays-Sundays through Dec. 21. 770-599-6706, www.lovelltreefarm.com.

Minter’s Farm. 283 Hills Bridge Road, Fayetteville. Leyland cypress $15-$45, Virginia pine, $15-$30 red cedar, Carolina Sapphires, $20-$35 5-12 feet. Precut Fraser firs. Hayrides daily. Gift shop. Credit cards accepted. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Through Dec. 24. 770-461-2840, www.mintersfarm.com.

Redland Nursery and Christmas Trees. 86 Redland Bend, Temple. Leyland cypress, Carolina Sapphire, Virginia pine and Deodora cedar. 5-15 feet. $40-$90. Live container and balled and burlap Cryptomeria, Deodora cedar, Leyland cypress, Green Giant arbor vitae. 5-10 feet. $60-$225. Precut Fraser fir. 5-11 feet. $40-$135. Complimentary boiled peanuts. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Through Dec. 20. 770-562-4303.

Rex Christmas Trees. 950 Wilkerson Road, Rex. Virginia pine, white pine, red cedar, Carolina Sapphire and Leyland cypress, 3-20 feet, $12-$65. Wreaths and garlands, mistletoe. Complimentary cider and cookies. 2-6 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays-Sundays. Through Dec. 24. 770-474-3416.

Sleepy Hollow Christmas Tree Farm. 628 Sleepy Hollow Road, Powder Springs. Virginia pine, Leyland cypress (Naylor’s blue, Murray X, Leighton green, Stardust) and Carolina sapphire. Up to 14 feet. About $6 a foot. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Through Dec. 24. 770-942-6770, www.sleepyhollowtrees.com.

Southern Tree Plantation. 2531 Owltown Road, Blairsville. Blue spruce 5-11 feet, $25-$130; balsam fir, 7-9 feet, $49-$86; Norway spruce, 6-15 feet, $35-$140; white spruce, 6-11 feet, $35-$105; white pine 6-10 feet, $29-$57; Precut Fraser fir 6-12 feet, $43-$200. Activities (Nov. 28-30 and Saturdays-Sundays Dec. 1-23) include hayrides, maze, pet farm, train rides and pony rides: $5 per activity; $8-$12 per person for all-activities pass; children 2 and younger free. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays Sundays noon-6 p.m. Through Dec. 23. 706-745-0601, www.southerntreeplantation.com.

Sperin Christmas Tree Farm. 6694 Yellow Creek Road, Ball Ground. Leyland cypress. 6-10 feet. $20-$45. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Through Dec. 24. 770-893-2285.

Spirit of Christmas Tree Farm. 8070 Campbellton Redwine Road, Palmetto. Leyland cypress and Carolina Blue Sapphire (4-20 feet) $14-$94. Precut Fraser fir (5-10 feet). Also marshmallow roast (Saturdays and Sundays), two Nativity scenes, lake, waterfall, cookies, hot chocolate, petting rabbits and gift shop. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays-Mondays Nov. 28-Dec. 15. 770-463-3818, 770-463-4104, www.spiritofchristmastreefarm.gacta.com.

Spring Brook Farm. 1520 Mandeville Road, Carrollton. Leyland cypress, Virginia pine and Carolina Sapphire, $40-$120. Precut Fraser fir. Free hayrides with tree purchase. Hot drinks and snacks available. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 28 and Saturdays-Sundays through Dec. 21. 770-861-5333, www.springbrooktrees.com.

Sugarland Christmas Tree Farm. 3933 Ga. 155 North, Stockbridge. Leyland cypress and red cedar, 4-10 feet; $18 and up. Precut Fraser fir, 5-10 feet; $25 and up. Christmas shop with handmade wreaths, floral arrangements, decorations. Complimentary hot chocolate and coffee, duck pond. Santa Claus visits 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Noon-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Nov. 28-Dec. 21. 770-957-6438, www.sugarlandtreefarm.com.

Thompson’s Tree Farm. 1829 Prospect Road, Lawrenceville. Leyland cypress and Carolina Sapphire 5-10 feet. $6-$7 per foot. Precut Fraser firs 6-11 feet $55-$115. Also wreaths, garlands and bows. Free hot chocolate, cider. Hayrides on weekends, gift shop, pet goats, Santa visits 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 6. Credit cards accepted. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Nov. 28-Dec. 21. 770-513-2552.

Wee Three Trees Christmas Tree Farm. Arnold Road and Ebenezer Church Road, Fayette. Carolina Sapphire, Blue Ice, Leyland cypress, Virginia pine and white pine: all $5 per foot. Trees 5-14 feet tall. Precut Fraser firs 5-14 feet; $39 and up. Free baby tree or box of lights with purchase. Wreaths and garland available. Free gift and candy for children. Free hayrides every day. Santa Claus on Saturdays and Sundays. Pony rides on Saturdays and Sundays ($5). 2-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Through Dec. 24. 770-487-6397, bellsouthpwp2.net/j/o/jordanrd/.

Worthington Tree Farm. 145 Twin Oaks Drive, Hampton. Leyland cypress, 4-14 feet, $3-$8 per foot; white pine, 5-9 feet, $3-$7 per foot; Virginia pine, 5-9 feet, $3-$7 per foot; red cedar, 5-12 feet, $3.50 per foot. Precut Fraser fir, 5-12 feet, $5-$15 per foot. Wreaths, decorations, gift shop, children’s hay mountain and free hayrides on weekends. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 12:30-5:30 p.m. Sundays. Through Dec. 20. 770-478-3677, www.georgiachristmastrees.com.

Yule Forest. 1220 Millers Mill Road, Stockbridge. Leyland cypress. white pine and red cedar. 6-10 feet. $21-$50. Precut Fraser fir $45-$56. Free toy drops from an airplane and hayrides on weekend afternoons. Free cider and candy canes. Green Adventure woodland maze $6; $3 children 12 and younger. Daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Through Dec. 25. 770-957-3165, www.yuleforest.com.

Yule Forest Highway 155. 13 Reagan Road, Stockbridge. Virginia pine and Leyland cypress, $22 and up. Precut Fraser firs, $7-$8 a foot. Also, live trees. Flocked trees, wreaths and garlands, petting zoo daily (afternoons) and free hayrides on weekends. Free apple cider and candy canes. Trees for Troops participant. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Through Dec. 22. 770-954-9356, www.aboutyule.com.