Everyone has seen a Christmas tree during the holiday season. Some people have opted for the plastic varieties, but those who prefer the real living things can find a whole farm of Christmas trees in Plumbers Landing, Kentucky, about two hours southeast of Cincinnati.
Hutton-Loyd Tree Farm has sold a variety of Christmas trees since the mid-1980’s and the holidays have become the backbone of their business. Hutton-Loyd also sells trees for landscaping needs. The tree business is a year-round job with different chores for different seasons that all come to a head at Christmastime.
“For the most part, the Christmas season picks up toward the last couple weeks of September. The Christmas season is the pinnacle of all of that work,” said owner Herb Loyd. “It represents the time period when we can enjoy the season for what it is. People coming out for their trees and purchasing products that allows us to fund the rest of the year. We have a lot of expenditures in the spring and the summer and so the Christmas season is the opportunity to recover those expenditures.”
In addition to their tree business, Hutton-Loyd also hosts weddings and even cross-country races. The farm has become a destination for families looking to have a traditional holiday experience.
“We have people who came as children and they’re coming back now as young adults. They bring their children and are able to experience a lot of the same things they did like the hay rides, going around the field, and picking their Christmas trees. We have a fireplace to make s’mores and hang out with hot chocolate and coffee,” Loyd said.
Hutton-Loyd carries a few holiday accessories like Christmas ornaments and also have consignment products made by local crafters like homemade honey and jellies.
There are four different types of Christmas trees offered at Hutton Loyd: the Fraser fir, the white pine, the blue spruce, and the Norway spruce.
“We have some blue spruce this year, which are popular in Europe but not as popular here, so I’m interested see how that does. This year, we are offering a coupon on blue spruce to entice people to try and see if they like it,” Loyd said.
Hutton-Loyd sells around 500 trees every season and also offer wreathes and garland for the holidays.
For more information on the farm’s trees, visit HL-Treefarm.com or their Facebook page.
– Story by Bryan Burke, associate editor/Photo via Facebook