We are picking our own Christmas tree this year - Christmas Tree Farms in Central Maryland

For almost a decade now my husband and I (joined by our daughters the last 5 years) have been setting up our pretty but fake Christmas tree. It wasn't a fake-fake looking tree plus it had some pretty neat-looking multicolored lights - but it was still fake.

This year will be different. Our pretty-but-fake tree saw its last Christmas last year because it decided to just stop being pretty - or maybe our Saint Bernhard who was still with us then had something to do with it. I'm not sure but in any case we do not have a fake tree anymore.

I'm excited to go out and pick a real tree this year. We could just stop at the roadside stand down the street but that wouldn't make for a very memorable trip. I want the whole experience:

bundle up, take the camera, drive to the farm, walk around (while it suddenly but magically starts snowing), have a hard time making a decision, take awhile to figure out how to secure to roof & safely transport it home, finally make it home hours later, enjoy some hot cocoa by the fireplace and admire pretty and real tree!

That's the plan anyway. Now we just need to decide on which Christmas-tree farm in Maryland to visit. We narrowed it down to the following 3 choices  - in random order:

1) Pine Valley Farms: 1150 Fannie Dorsey Rd., Sykesville, MD 21784

2) TLV Tree Farm (Triadelphia Lake View Farm): 15155 Triadelphia Mill Rd.,
    Glenelg, MD 21737

3) Gaver Tree Farm: 5501 Detrick Rd., Mt. Airy, MD 21771

Click here for more pick-your-own-Christmas-tree-farms in Central Maryland.

Deciding on a real tree this year is really about the time we can spend as a family and create some fun memories - and if we have a blast (how could we not?!) we might just be turning it into a family tradition. A fake tree can be really pretty and is low maintenance for sure but the trip to Lowe's or Michael's is just not one for the scrapbooks.

ANDREA BEDARD, M.A. ~ THOMPSON COMPANY, REALTORS ~ LIVING MARYLAND BLIPS

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Thompson Company, Realtors
15711 New Hampshire Ave Silver Spring, MD 20905
o: (301) 384-9177 c: (240)593-2860
andreabedard@mris.com
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Andrea is a proud military spouse, mom of two beautiful little girls, hobby decorator and a Realtor® based in Silver Spring, MD. Andrea focuses on Montgomery County and Howard County Real Estate, she enjoys everything beautiful in life and always answers the phone with a smile.

 

 All photographs are my own and I'd like to keep it that way. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
 
This post has been included in Maryland Real Estate News
Post is included in group: December's Season of Celebrations & Sharing Contest
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11 Comments on December's Season of Celebrations & Sharing: Pick-Your-Own Christmas Tree

DEC
09
2011
522,844 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

We absolutely love real trees, being Minnesotan and all.  Thankfully, you have joined the ranks.
10:45pm • #1
590,265 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Andrea,

Good for you. We went to the tree farm for years and had them cut, sometimes flocked wrapped and had to usually borrow a truck to get it home until we started buying SUVs. Now that she is grown, we have a fake but this year we bought a 10 foot Alaskan Silver Spruce and it has a tiny bit of flocking and pine cones so it looks good. I am sure when my daughter comes home, she will be unhappy. Oh Well!

Great that you are going to get a new one and they smell sooooooooo wonderful. Happy Holidays.
10:50pm • #2
305,656 Points 32 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Ron: I do, too, and actually grew up with a real Christmas tree every year. But then I met my husband and the fake tree came with him ;-) Now I'm excited to get a real one again!

Hi Kristin: I can't wait to have the smell throughout my house! I'm not sure yet how we'll get it home but we'll figure it out no doubt about that. I'm just so looking forward to the whole day. My girls are counting the days, too!

 
11:07pm • #3
474,349 Points 34 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

We have done the fake tree for years now. My daughter is begging for a live one. I have to relay a story about our first fake tree...in those years we couldn't afford much. We hadn't had a tree up in years, but then we had our daughter and had to have a tree. We still couldn't afford hardly anything. We went to The Salvation Army and found a fake tree for sale. We put it in the back of the truck to take home. I asked my husband to make sure it was secure in the open back of the truck. Oh yes he assured me. After several miles down the highway...the tree flew out the back and hit the highway. I was heart broken. My husband retrieved it and assured me it was just fine. It really did appear to be okay. We livid with that tree for several years before I finally bought us a new fake tree. That poor old tree got to be known as the Charlie Brown Tree. In the last years it was losing more needles than a dried out real tree. Our new fake tree is great. I buy fir essential oil...the real stuff to make it smell good.

This year my daughter wants to cut a tree from the forest. We talked about getting a permit to do that, but it probably won't happen. This year is really busy. My daughter has a chronic health condition that adds to our lives and so we probably won't cut the real one. We didn't even get a permit. Her health condition isn't live threatening....she suffers from cronic migraines and has about two a week.
11:13pm • #4
305,656 Points 32 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Debbie: You just totally proved me wrong - getting a fake tree CAN be one for the scrapbooks and very memorable! Great story. I suppose you don't have any Christmas tree farms in your area? That just sounds amazing to me to be able to go out into the forest and just cut one and take it home! 

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter. I can relate, it runs in my family as well. I hope that someday they'll figure out how to control it or even better stop them from happening!
11:30pm • #5
DEC
10
2011
466,050 Points 50 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Hi Andrea, I love your post! Having come from the mid-west growing up, we always went to pick out our "real" Christmas tree.

Now that I'm in sunny California, we have a fake tree. Oh, horrors! But it's so warm and dry here that I worry about Christmas tree fires from the Christmas lights getting hot and drying out the branches. Even though my fake tree is pretty, it's not the same. Enjoy your real Christmas tree this year!
1:04am • #6
524,476 Points 46 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Okay Andrea, this post is so much more cleansing and refreshing than the "one that got away". Phew.  Have a wonderful time on this family adventure to find just the perfect tree for you.
9:04am • #7
235,664 Points 1 Featured Post Called Shot Master

WE were going to do that this year, but family issues got in the way.  It is always a great time!
1:16pm • #8
601,229 Points 36 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

Andrea, I hope you have that perfect day dream about getting your tree. It's wonderful having a real tree in the house. Sending you happy Christmas Tree thoughts and sugar plum dreams for the kids. Happy Holidays!
3:17pm • #9
Outside Blog

Andrea,

            Down here in Florida they pretty much truck the trees in. My wife and I are from up-state New York...snow country! We were spoiled up there. The trees that you could get and their availability was good. Moreover you could find nice ones. We always went and cut one every year. It was a good family tradition and I know all are kids have it fixed in their memories. We have been living here in Florida for about twelve years now. We have always been disappointed with the Christmas trees that you can get down here. The biggest thing for us was to learn that different ares of the country have their own beauty which is unique only to that state or area. For example, in Arizona I am sure they decorate their cactus "trees", while here in Florida we decorate our Palm trees. Our Palm trees look like gigantic candy canes.

Spectacular in it's own way, Florida is unique. I miss the tradition of getting that tree up home. I hope you find a wonderful tree and create fond memories...Merry Christmas!...Wayne
3:47pm • #10
305,656 Points 32 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Pamela: Thank you! I'll definitely have to read up on the do's and dont's with a real tree - it's been too long!

Hi Mona: We are planning on it! We'll just have to wait another week until the family is united again!

Hi Randy: I'm so looking forward to it - it's a first for my little family but my daughter is already talking non-stop about it!

Hi Jeanean: As long as we are doing this together, it will be a wonderful time for sure! Happy Holidays to you!

Hi Wayne: Thank you for the pictures! My oldest would LOVE that - a pink tree! I understand what you mean. I miss a lot of the German Christmas traditions but try to keep as much of it going as I can. On the other hand I had to learn to embrace the traditions here, too, but they are just as beautiful (except having to wait until Christmas morning to open the presents, that's a tough one :-)
10:26pm • #11


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Andrea Bedard, M.A. ~ REALTOR® & Mil Spouse ~ Silver Spring, MD and beyond

Silver Spring, MD

More about me…

Thompson Company Realtors

Address: 15711 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20905

Office Phone: (301) 384-9177

Cell Phone: (240) 593-2860

Email Me

From Bethesda to Odenton - Montgomery & Howard County Real Estate blog

My blog is a mix of information about Maryland Real Estate, community spotlights, customer service discussions, industry news and trends, things to do & places to visit ... - sprinkled with a candid perspective of the life, times & tribulations of my life as a Realtor, mom and military spouse in the national capitol area

Living Maryland - blips from a Realtor, Mom and Military Spouse

Please visit mdhomes4mil.com - my blog for military families stationed at WRNMMC/NSA Bethesda and Fort Meade!

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