Get ready for the holidays: Christmas tree farms in the Wichita area open this week
Thanks to good growing conditions this year in Kansas, Christmas trees grown in the Sunflower State already seem to glow, according to one longtime tree farmer.
“They’re so nice this year. They’re just shiny,” said Eldon Clawson, a former president of the Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association who has operated Country Christmas Trees for the past 45 years in Wakarusa, near Topeka.
Rains that came at the right time have resulted in what Clawson described as “fresher and greener” looking trees this year. Celia Goering, another past president of the KCTGA, agreed that growing conditions have led to lots of fine-looking, locally grown trees at the Derby tree farm she and her husband, Glen, have run since 1984.
Growers in Kansas generally raise four types of pine trees, with Scotch pines topping the list, according to the KCTGA. Scotch pines tend to have a full body, stiff branches and medium to shorter length needles that can hold both light and heavy ornaments. Scotch pines also have excellent needle retention.
Other trees grown on Kansas farms tend to be Virginia pines that have a nice aroma, Austrian pines with open branches to accommodate larger ornaments and white pines that have more limber branches for smaller ornaments and are less fragrant.
Many Kansas tree farms also sell pre-cut fir trees shipped from out-of-state suppliers, usually from Minnesota and Michigan, but a nationwide shortage of Fraser firs and higher shipping costs will mean fewer Fraser firs and higher ticket prices, according to growers.
Even if you’re what KCTGA secretary Amy Grelinger of Windy Knoll Farms calls “fake tree people,” your family may still enjoy a visit to a tree farm that offers additional activities. For example, Cardinal Creek Farm in Leon offers a synthetic ice rink and faux snowball toss activities, plus a wooden toy-making experience. Windy Knoll offers wreath- and pine decoration-making classes, a wine-tasting day, as well as family photo opportunities. Even Santa plans to visit some of the tree farms.
Of the state’s 30-some Christmas tree farms, seven are within about a 30-minute drive from Wichita. Two open Sunday, Nov. 21, one opens the day before Thanksgiving and is also open Thanksgiving Day while the others open Friday, Nov. 26.
Cardinal Creek Farm, 396 SW 110th St., Leon, Nov. 26 through Dec. 20. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays. Since its field trees are not yet mature enough for sales, the farm is selling pre-cut Fraser and Douglas firs along with Scotch pines. Free admission to the farm includes hayrack rides, faux snowball tosses and Christmas movie-viewing in the farm’s Santa’s Workshop building. Elsewhere in Santa’s Workshop, kids can have a wooden toy of their choice created by an elf working behind the scenes. There will be four toy choices, each costing $10, said owner Zac Yarnall. Visitors can skate on the synthetic ice-skating rink for $3, with skate rentals an extra $2. More info: 316-323-4609 or cardinalcreekfarm.org
4 C Tree Farm, 11229 E. Creed, Wichita. Opening day is Friday, Nov. 26, 10 a.m. to dark, with a tentative Dec. 18 closing date. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to dark Saturdays, noon to dark Sundays and 2 p.m. to dark Wednesdays through Fridays. The farm, started in 1978, offers Scotch and Austrian pines. Trees range in size from 5 to 15 feet and cost $10 per foot, with a 5-foot minimum, according to the farm’s website. More information: 316-684-0464 or 4cchristmastreefar.wixsite.com/trees/about
Peaceful Pines, 762 80th, Walton, opening Friday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Regular hours are 1 to 5:30 p.m. Fridays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays. The farm grows Scotch, Virginia and Austrian pine trees for cutting. More info: 620-367-2612 or peacefulpinestreefarm.com
Pine Creek Farm, 994 Meridian Road, Newton. Second-generation co-owner Ardie Goering has continued her parents’ tradition of opening the day before Thanksgiving and also being open Thanksgiving Day. Opening hours are 1 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 24 and Nov. 25, and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, with regular hours being 1 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5:30 p.m. Sundays. Choose from Scotch or Austrian pine trees, ranging in size from 4 to 9 feet, grown on the 15-acre tree farm established in 1970. The farm also has shipped in Fraser and Canaan firs from Minnesota to sell. Prices for native trees range from $20 to $75, while the imported trees range from $70 to $190. The farm also has what Goering calls a “whimsical” candy cane tree maze and offers complimentary coffee and cider. More info: 620-367-2606 or pinecreektreefarm.com
Pine Lake Christmas Tree Farm, 6802 S. Oliver St., Derby. The farm opens 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, and will close Dec. 20. Regular hours are 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays (except Thanksgiving), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 6 p.m. Saturdays. Pine Lake tends to sell about 400 field trees every year, according to co-owner Celia Goering, and already more than 100 were selected during a limited, pre-opening tagging period the Goerings offered for the second consecutive year. The farm grows Scotch, Austrian, Virginia, Southwestern and Eastern White pine trees. It also ships in Fraser, Douglas and Grand firs from Michigan. The farm offers hayrack rides and sells s’mores kits for those who want to create the sweet treats using the farm’s fire pit. Santa will visit the farm from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28. More information: 316-258-0088 or pinelakechristmastrees.com
Prairie Pines, 4055 N. Tyler Road, Wichita. Santa is visiting this popular tree farm that will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26; the jolly old guy is scheduled to arrive at 11 a.m. Farm hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays and 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 21. Santa is expected to return for visits on Saturdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. through Dec. 12. The longtime farm grows all four pine varieties common in Kansas: Scotch, Virginia, Austrian and White. The field trees, ranging in size from 4 to 14 feet, cost $79. Like other tree farms, Prairie Pines has had some challenges in bringing in Fraser firs, according to farm officials, but it found a second supplier to provide about the same number of Frasers it’s offered in the past. Imported tree prices range from $89 to $499. Stock becomes more limited after the first weekend in December. Besides Santa visits, other weekend activities include horse-drawn wagon rides, hot chocolate and cookie concessions by the Maize High School choral music department and a children’s tractor-pulled train. More information: 316-303-2037 or prairiepines.com
Windy Knoll, 15630 E. 47th St. South, Derby. Opens at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 21. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and 2 to 5 p.m. weekdays. Established in 1980, Windy Knoll has added wreath- and pine decoration-making classes to its list of activities this year. Cost is $40 for wreath classes and $45 for the classes in which pine branches are fashioned into 42-inch holiday gnomes. In addition to offering scheduled classes, the farm is taking reservations for private classes. The farm also books professional photo sessions on the farm through Christmas Eve, which tend to be popular, said Amy Grelinger. Classes and photo sessions can be booked through the farm’s website and Facebook page or by contacting Grelinger at 316-304-5380. Other special activities include entertainment by the Campus High School jazz ensemble and carolers on Saturday, Nov. 27, and a wine-tasting 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, featuring wines from the Smoky Hills Vineyards & Winery in Salina. Four types of pines are available for cutting and cost $11 per foot with a 5-foot minimum price. Imported trees, starting at around $90, are also available. More information: 316-733-0918 or windyknolltrees.com
5 tips for a tree-farm trip
Measure the space, both vertically and horizontally, where you will display your tree so you don’t overbuy. Trees look deceptively smaller in the field because there’s no ceiling.
Different tree species means different characteristics. Scotch pines, the most common tree found on Kansas tree farms, have stiff branches that can hold both light and heavy ornaments. Virginia pines have a nice aroma, Austrian pines have open branches to accommodate larger ornaments and white pines have more limber branches for smaller ornaments. The latter are less fragrant, which reportedly causes fewer allergic reactions.
Check for freshness. Needles shouldn’t come off easily or be brittle. If they are brittle that means your tree already is dry. Most pine trees grown in Kansas have good or excellent needle retention. Be sure to check water levels when displaying the tree to avoid it drying out.
Dress for the outdoors with appropriate layers and shoes fit for walking in a field. Bring gloves, which is especially important for those who will handle the trees.
Have the right tools. All farms provide saws but you may need access to one once you get home. If it’s been an hour or more from the time you cut your tree at the farm to the time you put it in water, you’ll need to cut another ½ to inch off the bottom of the tree to reopen its circulatory cells to drink up water. Most local growers provide free twine or rope to tie down a tree but bring a tarp or blanket if you want to protect the roof of your vehicle. The Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association has posted a how-to video on its Facebook page with instructions to transport your tree home and avoid complications like tying your vehicle door shut.
Sources: Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association and National Christmas Tree Association