O, Christmas Tree, How Lovely Are Thy Branches… That is how the carol honoring the Christmas tree begins.  Getting together with the family to pick out a tree whether at a tree farm or pop-up lot is a fond Christmas memory.  Eventually, that gave way to the artificial tree out of convenience or perhaps just plain busyness.

Maybe this year more than ever, it seems families looking to get outside are foregoing the artificial tree and looking for a live Christmas tree at a local farm or pop-up tree stand, bringing in a little bit of nature inside during the holiday season.  Whether alone or with family or whomever you live with, going outdoors and finding just the right tree may bring some extra joy.  

By the way if it were not for royalty, there may have been no Christmas tree tradition particularly in England and New England. The puritans found those celebrations to be too pagan.

Though evergreens go back to ancient times as a symbol of life during winter solstice or the Roman Saturnalia, the Christmas tree tradition as we know it today is all thanks to Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria. He brought the German tradition of candle lit Christmas trees to the castle in the 1800s. Yeah maybe America severed the cord with England during the revolution, but we have remained intrigued by royalty and some are  “royal watchers.” Queen Victoria, being popular with her subjects, when seen pictured with her family around their Christmas tree, started a trend not only in Britain but across the pond as well.  Today, there is a Christmas tree lighting nearly in every town or city starting with the big one in Rockefeller Center.

Here are a few local farms and pop-up stands in the Blackstone Valley where you can carry on that holiday tradition of picking out just the right Christmas tree. 

Cumberland

• Adams Farm, 495 Sumner Brown Road open weekdays 3 pm – 7 pm; Saturdays, 10 am – 7 pm and Sundays, 10 am – 5 pm.  While you’re out, you can stop by The Ice Cream Machine for ice cream or Phantom Farms for pies and perhaps some tree decorations in their store. When you get home, combine the ice cream with the pie for a sweet treat while you decorate your tree. 

Lincoln

• Butterfly Farm, 679 Chase Road, has fresh cut trees and wreaths Friday-Sunday @ 10 am – 5 pm through December 18th.  You may also see some of the farm animals while you are there. 

• Lincoln Creamery, 276 Front Street, has a pop-up stand where you find a tree or wreaths. Get a pint of ice cream with every tree purchased.  The ice cream will go well with some holiday desserts just up the road at Gingersnaps Bakery.

While you are in Lincoln, stop by the Hearthside House gift shop (open weekends 10 am – 4 pm) for some decorations or take a walk at Chase Farm or Lincoln Woods.

Glocester/Smithfield 

• Lockwood Christmas Tree Farm, 129 Austin Avenue, Greenville, is open Monday-Friday 12  – 4 pm, weekends, 10 am – 4 pm. Trees include Blue Spruce, Fraser Firs, White Spruce and Norway Spruce. On weekends they may have complimentary goodies. Pets are welcome to come along with you to find just the right tree.  You can also stock up on firewood.
• Vintage Gardens, 733 Putnam Pike, Greenville, open daily for the Christmas season for fresh cut trees, holiday arrangements, wreaths and for those with small studio apartments, handmade boxwood trees. 

• Petersen Farm, 451 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, is the place to go if you are looking for a grand tree for that family room. They have lots of 8-10’ trees and some trees as tall as 11 or 12’. Trees are cut-your-own and reasonably priced.

After you pick up your tree whether in Greenville or Chepachet, you can find some refreshment along Route 44 at Cook & Dagger or A & W in Greenville or the Gentleman Farmer Restaurant  in Chepachet for a family style restaurant with homemade weekly specials. 

Have fun decorating your tree, we can’t wait to light our big tree in Central Falls at the boat landing, Broad Street on Tuesday, December 8 @ 5:30 pm. 

Patti McAlpine
Photo Courtesy Vintage Gardens