RICHMOND, Ky. (LEX 18) — For the first time in three decades, a Madison County Christmas tree farm is closed for the season. The owner says the extreme heat of summer and the drought is to blame.
Tender love and care, a little bit of faith and a lot of hard work, has been put into the Baldwin Farms since Margery Baldwin and her husband bought the farm in the 1970s.
"You plant it, and then you wait 6 to 8 years before you ever get a tree you can sell," Margery said.
Every year since, people visit Baldwin Farm to pick out the perfect tree.
"We'll see the parents and then they'll bring the kids. And then the kids will grow up and they'll bring their kids," she said.
But this year, Christmas season on the farm will look different. For the first time, Baldwin Farms will not be open for the Christmas season, because the long, hot summer took its toll.
"I can't get the little ones to grow without water. A big tree can sometimes survive because it has a root system and roots established. But the little guys with little root balls, they just can't make it without water," Margery said.
Normally, Baldwin Farms sells about 700 trees. But this year, only 50 were ready. Margery said in one of the fields, several of the trees have died.
"These last few years have just been so hot and so dry. We go right from winter into summer, without much spring then from summer into winter, without much fall," said Margery.
Margery said business is one thing, but she also makes it her mission to share her beautiful farm with everyone.
"We have a really wonderful and supportive community here and it's been a pleasure to get to know people and work with them," she said.
And she hopes to be able to do that again next year.
