David and Jack Bailey of Quail Field Farm in Mechanicsville.
Southern Maryland – One Southern Maryland tradition that has never lost its magic is going out in December to cut the traditional Christmas tree.
Thanks to Southern Maryland farmers, you can still create that experience for your family.
There are close to a dozen locations throughout Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s County ready to make that holiday memory become a reality.
Quail Field Farm in Mechanicsville, located on Route 6 heading toward All Saints Episcopal Church, is one such operation.
John Bailey, a former prosecutor for St. Mary’s County, began growing Christmas trees in 1973.
His sons, Jack and David, have carried on what their dad started more than four decades ago.
They have seven acres planted of Norway spruce, Douglas fir, Canaan fir, concolor fir and white pine.
“We sell a considerable amount of trees,” Jack admitted. “We try to stay open right up until Christmas.”
In recent years, the operation has included cutting trees in Pennsylvania for anyone who wants to just stop by and choose a tree already cut and ready to roll.
“We have a good selection,” Jack said. “The trees we bring in from Pennsylvania are cut every week.”
The farm is a perpetual evolution of new and growing.
“We plant between a thousand and two thousand trees a year,” he noted. “We have to plant so many because you have a lot of factors, from drought, deer and rabbit depravity.”
It takes about seven years for trees to reach maturity where they can be harvested for Christmas.
It’s time to go get yours!
Below is a list of Christmas tree growers in Southern Maryland:
Calvert County
• M. Robert Scrivener – 1130 M.I. Bowen Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. 410-535-0151 Hours: Opens Saturday after Thanksgiving, from noon to 5 p.m. daily. Description: This is a choose- and cut-your-own tree farm. Handmade wreaths are also available. Where to Buy: On farm. Products: Christmas trees (CYO), wreaths. Activities: Pick/Cut-your-own farm (Christmas trees).
Charles County
• Middleton’s Cedar Hill Farm – Mac Middleton and Kelly Bryant 5190 Leonardtown Road, Waldorf, MD 20601. 301-399-9812 • www.middletonfarm.com Hours: Late Nov. to Dec. from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Middleton’s Cedar Hill Farm has been in the Middleton family since the days of the early settlers. John Wilkes Booth crossed the farm on his way to Virginia after leaving Dr. Mudd’s house in Waldorf. Traditionally, the 300-acre farm was primarily a tobacco farm until the recent tobacco buyout. Products: Christmas trees, garland, roping, swags, wreaths, eggs, gifts and crafts (birdhouses, gift baskets), hay (round and square bales, alfalfa grass mix, clover, timothy), home décor products (corn stalks, gourds, ornamental squash, Indian corn), annuals, mums, meats (beef is available throughout the year, quarter, side, whole), processed goods (jams, jellies, butters, soap), manure, beans (lima, snap, string, wax), cucumbers (English), greens (collards, cress – winter field, kale, turnip greens), okra, pumpkins (cooking, jack-o-lantern, PYO), squash (winter), sweet potatoes and tomatoes (beefsteak, heirloom). Activities: Agritourism (pumpkin farm with weekend activities such as scarecrow making, pumpkin painting, reading hours, etc.), Christmas, day trips, fall season events, hayrides, mazes, parties (birthday parties during fall and spring), petting farm (goats, chickens, rabbits, sheep, calves, turkeys, pigs), pick/cut-your-own farm (pumpkins), pumpkin patch (wide assortment of pumpkins and gourds), tourism and workshops (Christmas – how to make a wreath).
• Tyo’s Christmas Trees – Bob Tyo 5495 Benny Gray Point Road, Nanjemoy, MD 20662. 301-752-9931 Hours: Thanksgiving through Christmas, Fri. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat. to Sun. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Description: A Christmas memory that lasts a lifetime – choose your Christmas tree and cut it yourself! Pick a hand-sheared Christmas tree and know it’s fresh. Pick from pine, blue spruce or concolor fir with heights up to 10 feet. We also offer wreaths, swags and fresh greenery arrangements. Don’t worry about lingering herbicides, pesticides or insecticides. Grass is controlled by mowing only. Pests are controlled naturally using praying mantises and ladybugs. After you pick your tree, enjoy a family outing wandering through the fields or strolling along the Nanjemoy Creek or our nature trail through the woods. Where to Buy: On farm, retail, may follow organic practices, not certified. Products: Christmas trees (CYO), greenery, swags, wreaths and greenery arrangements. Activities: Pick/Cut-your-own farm (Christmas trees).
St. Mary’s County
• Evergreen Acres – Roger and Nancy Lavoie 27118 Queentree Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659. 301-862-1597 Hours: Noon to dusk, Thanksgiving to Christmas. Where to Buy: On farm, retail. Products: Christmas trees (CYO) and wreaths. Activities: Pick/Cut-your-own farm (Christmas trees).
• Friendship Forest Christmas Tree Farm – John and Peggy Milliman 41370 Friendship Court, Mechanicsville, MD 20659 301-373-8184 • www.friendshipforest.com Hours: Weekends after Thanksgiving, Sat. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sun. noon to 4 p.m. Description: A wonderful old tradition for your family to experience. Enjoy a family outing in the fields and woods overlooking the pond, and admire the view of the other farms while you choose your Christmas tree (Pine, Spruce or Fir) and cut it fresh yourself (trees may be tagged earlier and cut later). Wreaths and swags available or custom made on site while you wander. Check the website to see more! Where to Buy: On farm, retail. Products: Christmas trees (CYO), swags and wreaths. Activities: Christmas, pick/cut-your-own farm (Christmas trees), school tours and winter events.
• Quail Field Farm – John D. Bailey Jr. and H. Jane Bailey 38161 New Market Turner Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659 (301) 884-4062 • www.quailfieldfarm.com Hours: Begins after Thanksgiving, Fri. to Sat. from 9 a.m. to dusk; Mon. to Thurs. –Please call. Description: Quail Field Farm, owned and operated by the Baileys for over two decades, provides your family with the opportunity to choose and cut your own Christmas tree! Browse through our acres of carefully tended trees. You and your family will cherish the experience in choosing a real Christmas tree to enjoy throughout the holidays. Where to Buy: On farm, retail. Products: Christmas trees (CYO). Activities: Pick/Cut-your-own farm (Christmas trees).
• Weaver’s Flower and Herb Gardens – Leon B. and Rhoda S. Weaver 40285 Busy Corner Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650 Hours: Mon. to Sat. from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sundays. Description: Specializing in fresh, cut-flower bouquets and basket arrangements, flowers for holidays (roses for Valentines Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas centerpieces, wreaths, etc.). Orders are welcome. No phone, so please just stop by farm. Where to Buy: On farm, retail. Products: Flowers (fresh, dried), gifts and crafts (hand-painted crab shells), herbs (basil, chives, cilantro, dill, oregano, parsley, thyme) and processed goods (herbed vinegars, jams, jellies).
Prince George’s County
• Linden Hill Christmas Tree Farm – Sarah and John Stockstill 4102 Old Crain Highway,Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. 301-627-3768 • www.lindenhillchristmastreefarm.com Hours: Fri. to Sun. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Description: Christmas Trees (CYO) or we will cut, varieties include Douglas Fir, Norway and Blue Spruce, White Pine. Where to Buy: On farm, retail. Products: Christmas trees (CYO) and wreaths. Activities: Pick/Cut-your-own farm (Christmas trees).
• Tanner’s Enchanted Forest – William H. and Lueretia Tanner 14300 Baden Westwood Road, Brandywine, MD 20613. 301-579-2238 • lutanner3@gmail.com Hours: Weekends after Thanksgiving until Christmas. Description: Christmas trees available. Enjoy the hot spiced tea, candy canes and cookies. Tree stands and small potted trees also available. Where to Buy: On farm, retail. Products: Christmas trees (CYO), garland and wreaths. Activities: Christmas, petting farm (during holiday season only), pick/cut-your-own farm (Christmas trees), tourism (visit a real Christmas tree farm – weekends only) and winter events. Services: Special occasions (call for appointment).
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@TheBayNet.com
