North Carolina leaf color peaks in October. By November, we expect cool weather, bare trees and fallen leaves. Indeed, though the mountain roads are warm on sunny days, in November, the hardwoods barely hold the last traces of red. Evergreens will soon be all there is of color.
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| As leaves fall, evergreens show their beauty. |
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| Last November Red |
Like the olive groves that spread over the hills of the Mediterranean basin, rows of cultivated Frasier Firs cover the hills of Ashe County.
Tree farmers grow their trees on large plots of land they lease or own all around the county. For many, it's a family business, and they hire additional farm-workers.
Here in Grassy Creek, even before the first of November, Frasier Firs and white pines as well are prepared for harvest and shipment to all parts of the U. S. in time for Thanksgiving weekend.
The first step is marking selected trees which have been growing as a cultivated crop for at least seven to over twenty years.
Trees are cut, wrapped and loaded onto trailers for transporting to convenient staging areas.
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| Sanford Fishel, owner of Grouse Ridge Christmas TreeFarms |
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| Todd McNeill of Grouse Ridge Christmas Tree Farms |
From here, they are loaded onto tractor trailers for moving down the mountain in convoys to far-reaches of the U.S. where they will be found on Christmas tree lots just before Thanksgiving.
Starting later this month, a crowd of choose and cut-your-own tourists will flock to the county and strap a fresh tree atop the car to take home to decorate. Shady Rest Tree Farm is one such place in Glendale Springs. It's a great way to start the holidays.
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| the Renfro's 2011 Christmas Tree at A Point of View. |
Happy Holidays from Ashe County
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