Loma Alta Tree Farm

We all went to Loma Alta after Thanksgiving. It was a lovely afternoon with family. We did the the hayride and hit the snack bar a few times. Frito pie, yum! We didn't come home with a tree though. I started to get a mild pain between my eyes the longer I frolicked among them. It would quickly disappear once I left the field. Usually we get a live tree from out of town. That way , we "reckon", it has no allergens that will affect us. So far it's worked.

My mom was amazed at how different they all were. I was also surprised. I pictured rows and rows of the same shape or size. Nothing like that. There were stumps left over from seasons before and baby trees. Lots of Charlie Brown looking trees could be found. They were just starting their tree lives. We'd spot a majestic specimen and race to it only to find it was too majestic and towered over us more than we thought. I saw real garland for the first time. The old needles that nestle in the branches. It sounds silly but I didn't know what the silver and gold shiny stuff was supposed to do or where the idea came from. The natural garland was rusty brown and together with the baby pine cones hanging from the tree branches, made the tree look already decorated. I really want one in my backyard now.

The Virginia pine is not a full tree, not at all like a fir. It's sparse with weak branches. Perfect for Victorian paper ornaments, popcorn and some sort of feathered garland. It would also make a great Mexican themed tree: lots of shiny, tin and straw ornaments. Still, we had a great time. Next year I'd love to explore another tree farm and just sort of enjoy the grounds. Loma Alta set the standard pretty high though. I have to admit, after hanging out with the trees for so long and admiring their quirky shapes and awesome sizes, it would have been hard to cut one and then see it die. I love live trees though, the scent, the color and when you have no room to store a big plastic tree every year, it works out. Mail ordering again.