By PAT NEWMAN
Staff Writer

Christmas tree farms produce the traditional greenery we associate with the holidays and a whole lot more. They provide a destination for a family outing, are havens for wildlife, and are personalized retail outlets where good cheer abounds.

Jim Lindquist, who farms about 24 acres of Virginia pine, leyland cypress and red cedar trees in Senoia, has almost as many stories to tell about his business as he has trees.

There's the story about the couple who selected a tree and had it secretly paid for by another family who recognized them from their church. Then there's the grandmother who wanted a special holiday experience for her two grandchildren adopted from a Russian orphanage.

School children running through the straight rows of trees are a familiar sight on weekdays at Lindquist's Farm when classes come to hunt down the perfect tree to decorate.

Lindquist and his wife, Kerran, are totally immersed in selling trees right now, along with beautifully appointed wreaths and holiday accessories. What started as a retirement sideline in the 1980s has been cultivated by Lindquist into a lucrative seasonal business. “It's a lot of work but it's a good sideline,” Lindquist said. “It gives us a little flexibility and it's gotten to be a pretty good thing,” he added, referring to his tree plantation.

Lindquist grew up on a farm in Illinois, but spent most of his adult life in Georgia. He planted his first trees in 1983, six years prior to his retirement from Delta Airlines. Most of Lindquist's trees are quick-growing varieties sprouting two to four feet a year. “I have some four-year-old trees that can grow to 12 feet,” he said. Aside from performing soil tests and fertilizing the soil, the trees need little care, according to Lindquist.

He predicts a good season for tree sales, if this past weekend is any indication. “Friday was our first day of sales and we were up 21 percent in the number of trees sold, and 30 percent in revenues,” Lindquist noted. The leyland cypress also emerged as the holiday shoppers' tree of choice. The leyland variety is known for its feathery branches, light scent and non-reaction to allergy sufferers. According to the Georgia Christmas Tree Association, these trees don't shed needles and stay fresh much longer than other varieties.

Fayette County's oldest Christmas tree farm is the Christmas Forest, owned by Gary and Jeannie Simpson. It's one mile south of the Old Courthouse and directly across from the city's new Kroger on Ga. Highway 85.

The Simpsons planted their first tree 22 years ago when their son was just an infant. “We've had families coming to us since 1981,” Jeannie said. “We've seen their families grow up, and they've seen our family grow up.” The husband and wife team started cultivating 10 acres with trees to “put money aside for the kids' college educations.” While Jeannie admitted that the savings part didn't materialize, their enthusiasm for working outdoors and providing trees for Fayetteville families has continued.

The Simpsons sell leyland cypress, Virginia pines, cedars and Carolina sapphires.

Now that the Halloween hayrides are over at Harp's Farm on Ga. Highway 92 in Fayette County, it's time to gear up for tree sales. According to Linda Culbreth at Harp's, business was brisk over the weekend with an overwhelming number of customers choosing to saw their own trees.

Harps's, as well as Lindquist's and the Christmas Forest, provides wagons for their customers to tour the farm and select their trees. Once a tree is chosen and cut down, the wagon returns and picks up the weekend woodsmen and their trees.

Selecting the perfect tree among hundreds can be a daunting task, but assessing the size of the room where you plan to set up the tree and deciding on sheared or natural, strong-scented versus lightly scented, can narrow the field.

Once a tree is cut and baled for travel, Lindquist advises placing it in a bucket of water when it arrives at its destination. The trunk will not seal over for about six hours, allowing the tree to drink up plenty of water. “A leyland cypress will drink over a gallon of water a day,” Lindquist estimated. Eventually, the amount tapers off. “That's the secret, to monitor it a couple times a day for the first few days.”

Cedars are prone to developing a fungus on their trunks. Lindquist said that adding two teaspoons of Clorox to a gallon of water can significantly reduce the chance of the trees getting slimy at the base.

Most tree farms will be open from early morning until dusk from now until Christmas. Below is a listing of local tree farms with directions:

* Lindquist Tree Farm, 105 Leylor Lane, Senoia 30276; 770-599-6490; Carries Va. pine, red cedar, leyland cypress, frasier fir, potted leyland. Wagon rides and petting zoo ($1 admission to zoo containing goats, llamas, rabbits, birds and guinea pigs). From intersection of Ga. highways, 85 and 16 in Senoia, go west 1.5 miles. Turn left at Rockhouse Road. Farm is 1/2 mile on right. (Look for the giant snowman.)

* Christmas Forest, 822 Glynn St. South, Fayetteville; 770-461-8850; carries Va. pine, red cedar, leyland cypress, Carolina sapphire. Wagon rides on weekends.

* Harps' Farm, 1692 Ga. Hwy. 92 South; 770-461-1821; carries Va. pine, red cedar, leyland cypress, Carolina sapphire. Wagon rides.

* Wee Three Tree Farm, Arnold Road, Fayetteville; 770-487-6397; carries Va. pine, white pine, leyland cypress. Take Redwine Road to Ebenezer Church Road and turn right. Go two miles and turn left on Arnold Road.