Picture of the day - May 30, 2005

A Taylors Valley, Va Christmas Tree Farm

Christmas trees are everywhere during that joyous season when we celebrate the birth of Christ and enjoy special times with our family and friends. We have Christmas trees in our homes, our offices, in shopping malls... even in our churches. Artificial Christmas trees are very popular in the U.S. thanks to their convenience, safety and relatively low cost. But for many families, Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without a real Christmas tree! But where do all of those trees come from? Well, the vast majority of them come from Christmas Tree farms, many of which are located in the high country of western North Carolina and southwestern Virginia. The area around Whitetop Mountain has many Christmas tree farms, including the one featured in today's picture. My wife and I happened upon it while driving up a narrow country road leading to the community of Taylors Valley, Va. As we rounded yet another curve, we suddenly saw a sea of Fraser Firs lined up like an Army Brigade on a parade field. There were Christmas trees of all sizes, ranging from seedlings to over ten feet tall - quite a site to see, especially since we weren't expecting it! With the demise of tobacco as a cash crop, the farmers of the middle Appalachian mountain area have looked high and low for a viable replacement. Those with land at the proper altitude seem to have found it: Christmas trees.   Picture Of The Day Homepage | Submit a photo Interesting Articles