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A tree grows in Fayette

Local nursery has notable Christmas selection

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Ever since Andy Martin was a young man, he had a dream.

His dream was to own a family-run, community-oriented business that catered to all people. So, when the opportunity to open his own nursery arose, Martin didn’t hesitate.

For decades, many people have turned to Martin when it was time to buy the perfect Christmas tree. And 32 years later, that tradition still holds true, said Mike Stillman, a five-year employee and long-time family friend.

Citizens and business owners alike count on Andy’s Nursery and Landscaping Company, 1807 Ga. Highway 85 North, Fayetteville, for their selection of everything from Fraser Firs to Noble Firs (the Cadillac of all Firs) to Scotch Pine Trees, Stillman indicated while standing amid the tree selection lit up like a Christmas tree, with long strands of light bulbs.

“Our biggest sellers are the Fraser Firs,” Stillman said. “We ship them in North Carolina, right out of the mountains.”

This year, customers will have a better stock of trees to choose from, he added.

“This is the best batch we’ve had,” Stillman said. “The last two years, we’ve had a lot of really good rain so the trees look great.”

Many customers prefer Fraser Firs to the Leland Cypress, Stillman explained. Many people simply buy Leland Cypress when Fraser Firs aren’t available.

“The problem is the most popular trees, Fraser firs, don’t grow well down here, so people get Leland Cypress,” he said. “But the limbs aren’t as sturdy for hanging ornaments. Leland Cypress trees are real popular and a lot of people have them in their yard, so they want something different.”

That’s where the Fraser Firs come in, he added.

Andy Martin, 63, has always took great care to ensure the customers could count on him for great trees. But now, Martin, a heart transplant patient, is ill. So, his children, Robbi, 40, Kevin, 35, and Tim, 37, who have been by their father’s bedside, will continue to carry on Andy’s legacy of providing great Christmas trees to the community.

In addition to the north Fayetteville location, residents also can purchase trees from Andy’s II, 1120 Ga. Highway 85 North, in south Fayetteville; at Andy’s III, 915 Ga. Highway 16 East, Newnan; and also at The Farmer’s Market, Shed No. 16, in Forest Park.

Stillman said he has warm memories of Andy Martin, who once served as his Fayette County Blue Devils Football Coach. Andy Martin is a man of great character, a hard worker, and a no-nonsense kind of guy who always found a way to show kindness, according to Stillman.

“One time we were installing a pond at another store and it was a bunch of guys slaving away in the summer heat and Andy as sick as he was got out of bed and came out and gave me some money to go out and buy everyone some drinks,” Stillman said.

That’s simply the type of guy Andy Martin is, Stillman said.