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_Seasons Greetings_
TVee: More and more people cutting their own
Continued from Page 1B
Highway 126 the Montgomery Tree
Farm welcomes visitors with the
fresh smelt of non-city air and the
opportunity to browse through 60
acres of homegrown fir and pme
David and Judy Montgomery,
owner operators of the Montgomery
Tree Farm, planted their first
evergreen seedlings in 1973 After
s«*en years o* careful cultivation
and help from tamdy members they
harvested the*r first crop of trees
The farm is now a familiar
landmark on Highway 126 sought
out by those who choose to trade
convenience for a more traditional
experience
'More and more people are no
longer running down lo their focal
Albertsons or other such retail
outlets lor their holiday trees ' said
Mike Montgomery son ot David
Montgomery Instead they are
choosing the more traditional route
of coming to a location where they
can hand pick and cut their own"
Spnnghetd resident Comna Ryder
remembers years past of
disappointment while touting local
tree tots for that perfect holiday tree
‘Most ot the tree lots I visited
consisted ot pushy salesmen who
were more interested in selling me
what they were trying to get nd ot
instead of what I wanted to buy *
Montgomery Tree Farm visitors
are greeted with warm smiles and
steaming cups ot hot chocolate and
coffee to take with them as they go
out into the larm and personalty
choose a tree to their liking After
marking the tree the customer has
the option of tt» larm cutting the tree
lor them or cutting it themsetves
Although many choose to cut their
own tree Mike Montgomery said he
prefers that the (arm cut A
‘Customers are tempted to cut
one tree and then cut another one
when they come across one that
they thmk s ncer,' he sard
"Sometimes they even try to hide the
first tree, which means we find dead
trees scattered around the tot'
Trees are not the only attractions
for visitors when they come to the
farm The experience of a horse
drawn hay nde is a big hit kx many,
and an integral part ot one s visit.
Mike Montgomery said The tarm
also ofters its own homemade arts
and crafts including wreaths made
from tree boughs — one ot the mos!
poputar Hems he said
The farm has a wide selection of
evergreens available The Noble fir
is the most popular holiday tree
because of its more natural look,
fuller branches and ability to hold its
needles tonger
Although popular, the Noble and
Grand firs are ihe most expensive
because of the growing time
“Whereas most of our other frees
take about seven years to develop
into a six foot tree the Noble and
Grand lake 10 to 12 years ' Mike
Montgomery said
Besides the Nobte and Grand, the
Montgomerys grow Douglas tirs.
Scotch pines and White pines
Growtng trees require a tot of hard
work and dedication Mike
Montgomery said few people realize
that holiday Irees are farm crops,
and like most crops, trees require
constant weeding, pruning shaping
and fertilizing
The threat ot hungry Pine Shoot
and Gypsy moths in Lane and
Douglas counties during the mid
1980s forced the Montgomerys to
use pesticides
"These moths are like locusts'
Mike Montgomery said "They can
wipe out a whole crop of trees in a
matter of days that took years ot
work We had to act quickly to
protect our crops *
Owner David Montgomery's years
of experience in the woods and his
Bachelor's of Science in forestry
gives him a solid background in
trees The enormous Caterpillar tree
skidder parked outside the property
reminds visitors that he is a
practicing logger
"My lather hates the stereotypical
images many associate with
loggers," Mike Montgomery said
"Yes. my father is one. but he is a
timber manager first" For every tree
the Montgomerys cut. at least one
more seedling is planted
Montgomery's trees are not only
celebrated in Oregon homes during
the holiday season but also
throughout Arizona, California,
Nevada arid Texas
Since the tree market crunch of
the mid-1980s, the Montgomerys
have focused their operation on
serving retail customers
‘A good year for a tree farmer
would be to sell about 1500 trees,"
Mike Montgomery said "Last year
was a good year'
The farm opens for business
seven days a week beginning the
first week ot December Visitors may
preselect their trees and come back
at a later date to have them cut Hay
rides are offered on weekends only
"Whether it's the trees, ihe fresh
air or the opportunity to participate in
a traditional holiday event, it's hard
for farm visitors not to walk away
without feeling they have
participated in something special,"
Mike Montgomery said
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