As we prepare for the holiday season, perhaps there is no better place to go in the Saranac Lake area than Moody Tree Farm! Set not too far outside of town, Moody Tree Farm is a quintessential holiday stop for anyone looking for Christmas trees, wreaths, decorations, or even a visit with some friendly farm animals.

Spruce, balsam, and fir … oh my!

Everyone has their favorite part of the holidays. The fragrant, cheery smell of coniferous trees has got to be at the top of any list. Who doesn’t love the smell of balsam? And the best part is that you can take that smell home with you in the form of soap, a Christmas tree, a balsam pillow, or a wreath.

But say you want to get a little crafty with your holiday decorations this year. No worries, wreaths are completely customizable and you can even decorate your own! We asked Jessie, a long time employee and master wreath decorator at Moody Tree Farm, to show us some tips and tricks. Here’s what we learned:

• Select a tree species (real or fake) with branches that can bend easily so you can achieve that circular wreath shape. After shaping, you’ll want to “fluff” all the branches so it’s full.
• Have your supplies handy. You’ll want cable ties, floral wire, scissors, and your accessories, which can include pine cones, ribbon, flowers, or ornaments.
• Attach your decorations in the branches of the wreath and fix them with a cable tie, hidden in the branches. This way everything will be secure and have a professional look!
• When done decorating, “fluff” and adjust decorations again so everything has a more 3D appearance.

If you prefer to select something pre-made, Moody Tree Farm has TONS of wreaths and kissing balls available. You can even order your wreaths online! To adhere to COVID safety protocols, this winter, Moody Tree Farm will have pre-made decorations for sale in the greenhouse. Traffic will be one way so that social distance can be maintained.

O, Christmas Tree

So, now you’re ready to pick out a tree. We’re confident Moody Farms will have the perfect Christmas tree for your house. Moody’s has balsam and Fraser firs available and every tree is planted here for the specific purpose of becoming your Christmas tree! These trees don’t grow overnight, though. In fact, it could take 10+ years for a tree to reach 6-7 feet. Seedlings are planted in the spring and are organically fertilized. Staff trim the trees each year so they maintain their conical shape.

In keeping with tradition, you can cut your own tree at Moody Tree Farm. While this event only comes around once a year, you will create memories that will last a lifetime! But picking out a tree can be hard, especially with so many to choose from. Both balsam and Fraser firs are desirable trees for the holidays; the Fraser fir is excellent for needle retention and the balsam fir has that wonderful Christmasy smell we all love. Here are some tree selecting tips:

• Measure, measure, measure! Before you even leave the house, measure your space so you have a better idea of what size tree will fit (don’t forget to account for the tree stand height, tree width, tree toppers, and tree height). Don’t forget to bring your tape measure with you so you can double check size in the field.
• Make the “fresh” choice! If you’re cutting the tree yourself, you know it will be fresh, and you won’t have to worry about pre-cut trees -- but even those will be fresh, too.
• Keep an eye out for resilient needles. You don’t want them all to fall off when you touch the tree!
• Remember: a tree might look different in the field than it will in your house. Use your imagination to imagine what it will look like in your space. Are there any noticeable gaps in the branches? Is it too tall? You don’t want to end up like Clark Griswold!

Now it’s time to get in the holiday spirit! Don’t forget to #ShopADK this season. Combine a day of perusing art galleries or sampling authentically Adirondack food with a trip to Moody Tree Farm, where the sights and smells of the season await. 

The reason you may see media of people not wearing masks on our website is because some footage is from prior years. More than ever, we all need to be vigilant about maintaining social distance of 6 feet or more and wearing masks when we cannot social distance.