This upcoming weekend, December 4-6, Governor M. Jodi Rell is inviting the public to an open house at her Hartford residence. The open house will feature choral groups throughout the weekend and a visit from Santa. Each room in the residence is magnificently decorated and all the Christmas trees at the residence come directly from Connecticut farmland.
Jones Family Farms in Shelton, CT, in conjunction with the CT Christmas Tree Growers Association, has supplied nine trees of differing sizes and varieties to be used throughout the Governor’s residence for the holiday season.
Kathy Kogut, Executive Director of the CT Christmas Tree Growers Association said, “It’s a real privilege to be able to work with the Governor’s team to supply the trees for the residence. Any time that government can find ways to showcase our local agriculture is a win-win situation.”
Every tree inside the house is decorated beautifully and with different themes. “My favorite had to be the tree on the sun-porch,” said Keith Padin, Marketing Manager for Jones Farms after a tour of the residence earlier this week. “The decorations on that tree were sent from various schools in Connecticut and it was stunning to stand there and see all the work of the young people looking out from one of our own trees.”
“It’s wonderful to see trees that we’ve raised from seed to be used for the enjoyment of Connecticut residents” says Terry Jones, 5th generation farmer at Jones Family Farms. The farmers at Jones' spend 10-12 years taking care of the trees on their 400-acre farm. A lot of work goes into every tree: planting the seeds, transplanting from nursery to field, and hand pruning each tree every year. “It’s a labor of true love,” said Jones. “My father, Philip, started the trees as a 4-H project in 1938 and ever since, the love and care for these beautiful trees has been a joy for our family. It was a thrill to see one of our beautiful Colorado Blue Spruce dedicated to our state’s 4-H clubs!”
Guests can harvest trees for their own residence by visiting Jones Family Farms and Winery or any other CT Christmas tree farm this season. Jones is open every day through Christmas Eve from 9am to 5:30pm and guests must arrive by 4pm if they plan on harvesting their own tree. Visit the CT Christmas Tree Grower’s Association website at www.ctchristmastree.org to find a tree farm in your area.
Jones Family Farms is located in Shelton, Connecticut, off Route 110 - 5 miles north of Shelton Center or 2 miles south of the junction of Route 110 and 111 in Monroe. For directions, harvest tips and other information call the Farmer Jones crop-info line – (203) 929-8425 or visit the Jones website at: JonesFamilyFarms.com.