By Lynn R. Mitchell
What a great tradition when you mix together a beautiful cool late autumn day, the mountains of western Virginia, a family, a Christmas tree farm, and a dash of fun and adventure … and you have a family outing to find just the right Christmas tree. On a recent weekend in Blacksburg we piled into the SUV with daughter Katy and son-in-law Colin and set out for Craig County and family-owned Joe’s Christmas Tree Farm located on Route 42 north of Newport.
Other tree hunters were already there as we parked and headed inside to get instructions and a saw …
… but first pausing at the top of the stairs to look out over the parking lot and surrounding mountains. Ahh, Virginia.
As soon as we walked onto the porch, it smelled like a Christmas tree forest with the scent of Frasier Firs.
Map in hand, it was time to set out over the acres of trees to find just the right one.
Frasiers, one of the most fragrant of Christmas trees, were in abundance in all shapes and sizes.
Found the right one!
My child bonding with the new-found Christmas tree for 2015 …
… so they obliged Mom for a photo.
Documenting …
… the harvesting of the tree.
Time to head back to the gift shop and get the tree bound and loaded on the vehicle.
Inside were all kinds of whimsical decorations and ornaments to get even Scrooge in the holiday spirit.
The woodland creatures on this tree reminded of niece Emily.
Katy was intently inspecting the goods.
A pic of Atlanta native Colin taking a pic of the “Real Virginia Christmas Tree” poster. Virginia is for lovers, you know.
Mission accomplished, tree loaded …
… and time to return back to Blacksburg to decorate the just-right tree. It was a fun-filled family adventure with the kids.
Visit Joe’s Christmas Trees on Facebook.
Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
November 14, 2015
LynnRMitchell.com 