In the dead of the winter, Wyoming is easily mistakable for the North Pole. The wintry, ice-blown coniferous silhouettes of a Wyoming December fondly produce nostalgic reminiscences of snuggling in the living room, smiles lit by twinkling red-and-green lights, and flickering flame. It also forces families indoors, in search of the perfect tree. Here are the best Christmas tree farms in the state.
Twigs is a supremely local, small-time garden center able to both support local clientele and the demanding expectations of tourists and the deep-pocketed. While many nurseries close shop for the winter, this proud tree-hugger establishment purports to “come alive” during the holiday season. Other than a host of decorations, lights and handmade wreaths (drawn from local fresh and dried foliage), there’ve a decent selection of fir trees, from two-foot, one-room ornamentals to 13-foot living room dominators.
In the spring and summer, Riverbend boasts vibrant flowers, herbs, shrubs and greenery for all tastes, but come Christmastime, it’s all about billowing conifer. A massive inventory offers an extended landscaping & decorative-functional fauna menu for the pickiest of residential and commercial clientele. Amidst it’s rows of healthy trees and flower-stuffed greenhouse, this nursery is also keeping with the times, offering an assortment of repellants and remedies for the devastating pine/bark beetle.
Sweetwater is a local institution, delivering quality foliage and greenery, especially come planting season(s). Unlike many competitors, this nursery is open through December, allowing plenty of time (and materials) for those that’re behind the ball, attempting winter crops, or planning for next year. And this farm provides an impressive Christmas tree as well. If any advice is sought, it’s happily dispensed: staff here love to share their wisdom, recommendations and past tribulations. These experts in local ensure a pleasant shopping experience and, ideally, given the fickle nature of Wyoming climate, a healthy crop.
View this post on Instagram
Disputably or not, the national forests of Wyoming flaunt a wealth of beautiful Christmas conifer candidates. While tearing into the wilderness and felling a random tree is irresponsible and destructive, obtaining a National Parks permit ($10), ensures a beautiful winter specimen drawn from designated, healthy plots of forest. With limits on the amount of trees that can be chopped-down, obtaining an X-mas tree via permitted, paid means is both rewarding and in the true holiday spirit.
