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Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008

Plenty of trees await your saw and tinsel

In stores you'll find artificial Christmas trees not seen in nature: pink, silver and those that come wrapped in a permanent set of lights.

But a live Christmas tree is completely different. Either cut or balled and burlapped, bring it into your home and before a single ornament is added, you've transformed a room with its fresh scent and natural form. And when the holidays are over, many can be planted and enjoyed for years.

Farms throughout the state offer customers a chance to visit and choose their own special tree. Here is a selection of locations, most within a short drive of Lexington.

For more information about other area Christmas tree farms, go to www.kychristmastreefarms.com.

Bullitt County

Werkmerister's Christmas Tree Farm, 966 Clarks Lane, Shepherdsville. Choose and cut white pine, Douglas fir and Serbian spruce, $40 each. Open Saturdays and Sundays only, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Dec. 14. Wreaths for sale. Saws provided. (502) 543-6084.

Clark County

Kovalics' Christmas Tree Farm, 487 Ecton Road, Winchester. Cut white and Scotch pine, starting at $25; cut spruces and firs, $10 a foot; balled and burlapped trees, $15 a foot. Wreaths, roping and swags available. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 1-6 p.m. Sun. through Dec. 23. From Interstate 64 Exit 96, turn right onto Ky. 627. At first stop light, turn left on Veterans Memorial Parkway (Ky. 1958), go 1 mile to Ky. 1960 or Ecton Road; turn right, go ¼ mile to farm on left. (859) 744-2930.

Yuletide Tree Farm and Nursery, 3925 Old Boonesboro Road, Winchester. Pre-cut and you-cut trees, $25-$35; balled and burlapped trees, $30-$72. Cut Scotch and white pine; balled and burlapped white pine, Douglas fir and Norway spruce. Wreaths and garland available; gift shop. 1-5 p.m. Sun.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. through Dec. 21. Take Boonesboro Road 1.3 miles to farm. (859) 744-9068.

Estill County

Sundance Farm, 700 Parvin Road, off Ky. 89 between Winchester and Irvine. Norway spruce and Douglas fir, $4.50 a foot; Scotch pines, $3.50 a foot. Garlands also available. Gift shop, donkey cart rides, hot apple cider. Noon-5 p.m. Sat., Sun., Dec. 6 through Dec. 21. Follow signs from Ivory Hill Baptist Church at Ky. 1886. (606) 723-1042.

Fayette County

Barker's Christmas Tree Farm, 1470 Deer Haven Lane. Choose and cut Scotch and white pine, $31. Pre-cut Fraser firs starting at $51. 3-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. through Dec. 23. From Man o' War Boulevard, take Todds Road 1.8 miles out of town, past I-75 bridge. Turn left on Deer Haven Lane; farm is 1 mile on the right. (859) 263-7661 or (859) 223-4354.

Christmas Memories Tree Farm, 4890 Keene Road (Ky. 1267). Choose and cut white and Scotch pine and Douglas fir, $35-$75. Saws provided. 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sat., 2-5:30 p.m. Sun., Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14. From Man o' War Boulevard and Harrodsburg Road go 1.7 miles out of town. Turn off Harrodsburg Road onto Military Road at South Elkhorn light near the bridge. At the top of the hill, bear to the left on Keene Road (Ky. 1267). Drive 0.4 mile, and the trees will be on your left. (859) 223-1140, wgfsmoody@aol.com.

Nieman's Christmas Tree Plantation, 5100 Sulphur Lane. Select and cut Fraser and Douglas fir, starting at $50. Balled and burlapped Norway and blue spruce, Douglas fir and white pine. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., Sun.; 5 p.m. until dark weekdays. Or call for appointment. Through Dec. 24. From Man o' War Boulevard, take Todds Road 2.5 miles, turn right on Sulphur Lane. Farm is on the right; look for sign. (859) 263-4535, (859) 552-3532.

The Treeman Nursery Farm, 1086 Harp Innis Road. Live, balled and burlap trees delivered to your home and set up in a waterproof container. Someone will return within two weeks to plant the tree in your yard. White pine, Norway spruce, Canadian hemlock. All sizes available. Price depends on size (a 6-foot tree is $585 delivered and planted, or you can pick up a tree and take it home for $125). By appointment only. From Paris Pike, turn left at Harp Innis Road and drive about 2.5 miles. (859) 533-4108.

Fleming County

Hutton-Loyd Tree Farm, 1483 Big Run Road, Wallingford. You-cut or pre-cut Scotch and white pine, $21-$59; cut Fraser fir, $47-$96; balled and burlapped Scotch and white pine and Douglas fir and Norway spruce, starting at $39. Wreaths and garland available. Hay rides and open fire pit on weekends. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Dec. 7; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 12-14, 19-21. (606) 876-3423.

Franklin County

Kirchhoff Christmas Trees, 750 Hickory Ridge Road. Scotch pine 3 to 14 feet, $40 all sizes. Wreaths in white and Scotch pine, cedar and mixed greens. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., Sun. through Dec. 24, or by appointment on weekdays. Take I-64 to Exit 48 (Ky. 151 Lawrenceburg-Graefenburg exit). Go south on Ky. 151 about 1 mile. Turn right on Avenstoke Road and go 0.9 mile. Turn right on Hickory Ridge Road; farm is 1.2 miles on the right. (502) 875-7950 or e-mail fredjk@bellsouth.net.

Garrard County

Cathole Bend Plantation Christmas Tree Farm, 1243 Cathole Bend Road, Lancaster. You-cut Norway spruce and white pine up to 9 feet tall, $14-$100. Open 9 a.m. until dark on weekends through Dec. 21; weekdays by appointment only. Take U.S. 27 south to Ky. 52 in Lancaster, turn west toward Danville and go 0.8 mile. Turn south on Ky. 1150 (old Danville Road) and go 2.8 miles until reaching the bridge across Dix River. Don't cross the bridge. Drive straight down Cathole Bend Road until the road ends at the farm. (859) 985-7044.

Madison County

Baldwin Farm, 1113 Tates Creek Road, Richmond. Norway and blue spruce, white pine pre-cut, you-cut (hand saw available) or balled; $28 for pines up to 8 feet tall, $10 for each additional foot; $40 for spruces up to 8 feet tall, $10 for each additional foot; balled and burlapped, starting at $48-$59 4 to 5 feet tall ($10 for each additional foot). Pre-cut Fraser fir starting at $40. Wreaths, garland, mistletoe kissing balls, mailbox covers available. Free hot chocolate and candy canes. 10 a.m. until dark daily through Dec. 22. From Main Street (U.S. 25) in Richmond, take Tates Creek Road (Ky. 169) 3.5 miles and look for signs on left. (859) 582-5785, www.baldwinfarmsky.com.

Rowan County

B&B Farm, 1200 Rock Fork Road, Morehead. Scotch and white pine. All trees $15. Open weekends and by appointment. Calling ahead is encouraged. (606) 780-0449. Scott County

Robinson's Christmas Tree Farm, 1816 Woodlake Road, 2 miles southwest of Stamping Ground. Choose and cut your own tree. White and Scotch pine, $35. 1-5:30 p.m. Sun.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sat. through Dec. 21. Take I-64 to U.S. 62 and turn right. Go 4 miles to U.S. 460 and turn left. Go 1 mile to Ky. 227 and turn right. Go 8 miles to Ky. 1688 and turn left. Farm is 2 miles on left. (502) 535-6147.

Trigg County

Land Between the Lakes, Golden Pond. Permit required for families to cut down one free cedar tree in select regions of the national recreation area. Available Dec. 1-24 at Golden Pond Visitor Center, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, or LBL administrative office, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. For directions, call (270) 924-2000 or go to www.lbl.org.