What Does It Take to Grow the Perfect Christmas Tree?

For this New Jersey farmer, it’s years of patience, endless pruning, and a little bit of crazy.

Families venture out among the rows of Christmas trees to find their perfect pick. Courtesy of Hidden Pond Tree Farm

At Hidden Pond Tree Farm, tucked away in Mendham, New Jersey, you’ll find Christian Nicholson tending to his 30,000-plus Christmas trees, which range from one to 12 feet tall. The farm is a 45-minute drive from New York City, but it’s a world apart from the Big Apple—like a time warp back to simpler days.

This is more than just a place to buy a tree. It’s an experience.