Lochsloy Acres Christmas Tree Farm
2019 Season Newsletter
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It’s that time again. Even my 11 year old grandson was complaining that the year has gone by so fast so it’s not just me! We’re scrambling to get ready for opening day but I think we’ll be in good shape by then.
This is a strange year – Thanksgiving is really, really late, cutting the time to Christmas really short. If you haven’t tried reserving your tree, this might be the year to do it. Lochsloy Acres will be open for pre-season tree reservations from November 2nd to November 27th. As usual, we will be open during the pre-season (up to Thanksgiving) every day but Tuesdays from 11am – 4:30pm. Our address is 5511 State Road 92, Lake Stevens. Our web site is www.LochsloyAcres.com.
This was a much better growing year than we’ve had the last couple of years and the trees really responded well. We have a LOT of stunning specimens out there. No need to show up when we first open to find a real beauty. We haven’t finished our inventory of what’s available but we’ll have it by the time we open.
So, what’s new this year?
The Doug Firs are plentiful and GORGEOUS again this year! Clearly, they’re a native species and deal well with whatever weather conditions occur. We have them tagged starting at 6’ with lots of selection in the 8-10’ range. Maybe even a few taller than 10’.
Grand Firs – The cooler summer was kind to the Grands. We don’t have nearly as many with the burn spots on the needles. As usual, we tagged any trees that look good from a couple of feet away. Depending on how you use your tree, that might not be good enough so be sure to thoroughly inspect the tree you choose before you cut it. The wonderful smell is not affected though.
Fraser Firs – Oh my, we have Frasers EVERYWHERE!! When another variety dies in a spot (especially a Noble!), we replace it with a Fraser. So if that’s your tree, wear your walking shoes and be prepared to take a while to browse the selections. The Frasers are such a light weight, easy to handle tree, we don’t mind if they get taller than the 10’ height we usually limit the other trees. Not sure yet but it looks like we might have some up to 12’.
Nordmann Fir – Funny story – Mike came up with an idea how to prune these to get them to the 8-10’ height our customers like. However, he did this on ALL the trees rather than just some of them. Now we have LOTS of fabulous trees in the 8-10’ range and very little shorter. Oops! Let me tell you – this tree-growing business is an art, not a science. The Nordmanns have a longer, greener needle than the Noble but really strong branches. They are also noted for excellent needle retention. Be sure to check them out – they’re stunning.
Noble Firs – We have a good selection of Nobles – about the same number as last year. We have lots in the 6-7’, 7-8’ and 8-9’ sizes with a few above 9’. The cooler summer seems to have agreed with them – fewer died this year and they all look really nice. We’ll have a better idea of the height inventory on opening day.
Kids/Funny Trees – Sorry but we’re not doing these any more. We saw how dry and brittle our grandkids’ tree got and decided that was not a good idea.
Why would you want to reserve your tree early?
- Convenience - The days in November are longer and the weather is often better (or not).
- Time - The interval between Thanksgiving and Christmas is really short this year. Even in a normal year, this time is packed with holiday activities which makes it harder to find time to look for your tree.
- Selection - The first shoppers get the best tree choices. Don’t worry if you can’t come the first day, we will have over 3000 trees tagged this year so there’s lots to choose from. Bring your waterproof walking shoes to check them all out!
- Possibility of weather issues - Snow is a four letter word around here. It causes many U-Cut tree farms to close early. If you have a reserved tree, you can come get it even if we’re closed to the public.
When are we open prior to Thanksgiving?
Starting Nov 2nd, we will be open every day but Tuesday from 11am – 4:30pm through the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
When can I cut my tree?
We discourage cutting trees much before Thanksgiving. Even with plenty of water, a tree in a warm house is going to dry out. However, if you need to cut your tree early for some reason, we have the processing station ready to shake and bale it for you. If you’d like to avoid the post-Thanksgiving crowds, it’s an option to take your tree home the weekend before Thanksgiving and leave it outside in water.
If you reserve your tree, the last day to come back and cut it is Sunday Dec 15th.
How does tree reservation work?
When you arrive, we give you plastic tape to mark your tree. You can also bring your own waterproof decorations if you choose. When you find your perfect tree, you decorate it, bring the price tag stub back to the barn, and pay for your tree. You will fill out a reservation card telling us who you are, which tree is yours (on the stub) and when you’d like to pick it up (if you want us to have it ready for you). We put your name on your tree and paint the stump to mark it as a pre-sale. When you return for your tree, we will give you the exact location of your tree (trust me - they all look alike after a while!). You cut your tree and bring it to the barn to be shaken and baled.
Can I reserve a tree after Thanksgiving?
No. I’m sorry but we can’t do this. Taking reservations takes a lot of work and once we get really busy, we just don’t have time to do it.
When will we close this year?
After we tag the trees, we determine our selling target for the year. We don’t want to oversell and have no tall trees for future years. When we reach the target, we close to the public. Our best guess this year is Sunday, Dec 8th. We have no control over when people show up and what they buy so this is our best guess based on history.
Tips for tree shopping:
We look forward to seeing you again this holiday season. Thank you for your continued patronage.
Mike Peters and Sheila McKinnon
Lochsloy Acres Christmas Tree Farm
2019 Season Newsletter
.
It’s that time again. Even my 11 year old grandson was complaining that the year has gone by so fast so it’s not just me! We’re scrambling to get ready for opening day but I think we’ll be in good shape by then.
This is a strange year – Thanksgiving is really, really late, cutting the time to Christmas really short. If you haven’t tried reserving your tree, this might be the year to do it. Lochsloy Acres will be open for pre-season tree reservations from November 2nd to November 27th. As usual, we will be open during the pre-season (up to Thanksgiving) every day but Tuesdays from 11am – 4:30pm. Our address is 5511 State Road 92, Lake Stevens. Our web site is www.LochsloyAcres.com.
This was a much better growing year than we’ve had the last couple of years and the trees really responded well. We have a LOT of stunning specimens out there. No need to show up when we first open to find a real beauty. We haven’t finished our inventory of what’s available but we’ll have it by the time we open.
So, what’s new this year?
The Doug Firs are plentiful and GORGEOUS again this year! Clearly, they’re a native species and deal well with whatever weather conditions occur. We have them tagged starting at 6’ with lots of selection in the 8-10’ range. Maybe even a few taller than 10’.
Grand Firs – The cooler summer was kind to the Grands. We don’t have nearly as many with the burn spots on the needles. As usual, we tagged any trees that look good from a couple of feet away. Depending on how you use your tree, that might not be good enough so be sure to thoroughly inspect the tree you choose before you cut it. The wonderful smell is not affected though.
Fraser Firs – Oh my, we have Frasers EVERYWHERE!! When another variety dies in a spot (especially a Noble!), we replace it with a Fraser. So if that’s your tree, wear your walking shoes and be prepared to take a while to browse the selections. The Frasers are such a light weight, easy to handle tree, we don’t mind if they get taller than the 10’ height we usually limit the other trees. Not sure yet but it looks like we might have some up to 12’.
Nordmann Fir – Funny story – Mike came up with an idea how to prune these to get them to the 8-10’ height our customers like. However, he did this on ALL the trees rather than just some of them. Now we have LOTS of fabulous trees in the 8-10’ range and very little shorter. Oops! Let me tell you – this tree-growing business is an art, not a science. The Nordmanns have a longer, greener needle than the Noble but really strong branches. They are also noted for excellent needle retention. Be sure to check them out – they’re stunning.
Noble Firs – We have a good selection of Nobles – about the same number as last year. We have lots in the 6-7’, 7-8’ and 8-9’ sizes with a few above 9’. The cooler summer seems to have agreed with them – fewer died this year and they all look really nice. We’ll have a better idea of the height inventory on opening day.
Kids/Funny Trees – Sorry but we’re not doing these any more. We saw how dry and brittle our grandkids’ tree got and decided that was not a good idea.
Why would you want to reserve your tree early?
- Convenience - The days in November are longer and the weather is often better (or not).
- Time - The interval between Thanksgiving and Christmas is really short this year. Even in a normal year, this time is packed with holiday activities which makes it harder to find time to look for your tree.
- Selection - The first shoppers get the best tree choices. Don’t worry if you can’t come the first day, we will have over 3000 trees tagged this year so there’s lots to choose from. Bring your waterproof walking shoes to check them all out!
- Possibility of weather issues - Snow is a four letter word around here. It causes many U-Cut tree farms to close early. If you have a reserved tree, you can come get it even if we’re closed to the public.
When are we open prior to Thanksgiving?
Starting Nov 2nd, we will be open every day but Tuesday from 11am – 4:30pm through the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
When can I cut my tree?
We discourage cutting trees much before Thanksgiving. Even with plenty of water, a tree in a warm house is going to dry out. However, if you need to cut your tree early for some reason, we have the processing station ready to shake and bale it for you. If you’d like to avoid the post-Thanksgiving crowds, it’s an option to take your tree home the weekend before Thanksgiving and leave it outside in water.
If you reserve your tree, the last day to come back and cut it is Sunday Dec 15th.
How does tree reservation work?
When you arrive, we give you plastic tape to mark your tree. You can also bring your own waterproof decorations if you choose. When you find your perfect tree, you decorate it, bring the price tag stub back to the barn, and pay for your tree. You will fill out a reservation card telling us who you are, which tree is yours (on the stub) and when you’d like to pick it up (if you want us to have it ready for you). We put your name on your tree and paint the stump to mark it as a pre-sale. When you return for your tree, we will give you the exact location of your tree (trust me - they all look alike after a while!). You cut your tree and bring it to the barn to be shaken and baled.
Can I reserve a tree after Thanksgiving?
No. I’m sorry but we can’t do this. Taking reservations takes a lot of work and once we get really busy, we just don’t have time to do it.
When will we close this year?
After we tag the trees, we determine our selling target for the year. We don’t want to oversell and have no tall trees for future years. When we reach the target, we close to the public. Our best guess this year is Sunday, Dec 8th. We have no control over when people show up and what they buy so this is our best guess based on history.
Tips for tree shopping:
- PLEASE DRESS YOUR CHILDREN FOR THE COLD! While it might feel comfortable walking from your house to your car, after you've wandered around the fields for an hour, you will feel the chill. We've pulled items from the lost and found and loaned our own jackets to wrap up children who are terribly underdressed. Hot chocolate can't warm frozen toes.
- No matter how sunny the day is, the grass will be WET. We’ll try to get the mowing done by Thanksgiving but expect the grass to be wet and deep. Water-proof boots are a better choice than sandals, stilettos or even tennis shoes.
- Parking is always an issue on the weekends after Thanksgiving. Do yourself (and us) a favor and avoid these busy days/times:
- After Seahawks games - especially if it's a good game! (Go Hawks!)
- The first weekend in December - both Saturday and Sunday are incredibly busy.
- After Thanksgiving, good times to come for easy parking and a leisurely shopping trip include weekdays (except Tuesday when we’re closed) from 11am to 4:30pm and weekends between 9am and 11am. During those times, we have more time to visit with you, answer questions and, generally, enjoy the season as well.
- I wouldn’t think we should have to say this but, apparently, we do. PLEASE – if you bring a trailer, make SURE you can back it up with precision. We only have one trailer spot so if it’s full, we’ll wave you off before you enter the lot.
We look forward to seeing you again this holiday season. Thank you for your continued patronage.
Mike Peters and Sheila McKinnon
Lochsloy Acres Christmas Tree Farm
.
There's a Christmas tree in there somewhere!!
Lochsloy Acres Tree Farm
425-308-0355
5511 State Road 92
Lake Stevens, WA 98258
LochsloyAcres@live.com
Member of Puget Sound Christmas Tree Association
http://www.pscta.org
