(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — It’s that time of year when many are on the hunt for a perfect Christmas tree, and in far northwest suburban Spring Grove, Richardson Farm just wrapped up a booming opening weekend.
“It's always a big rush to start their holiday weekend that day after Thanksgiving,” said co-owner George Richardson. “People just poured in.”
Real trees are in high demand, as more people want the experience of choosing and chopping a tree — but supply is a struggle.
Richardson told WBBM that the summers have been really dry the last five years.
“This last summer was a pretty severe drought,” he added. “So we kind of almost lost the year of growth on our trees.”
Matured firs, which would normally stand up to 10 feet tall, are closer to seven or eight feet this year, he said.
The good news is there are still plenty of trees ready to take home, including the popular Canaan, Fraser and Douglas firs.
“On our farm, our crop is very good,” Richardson said. “We're gonna have 5,000 – 6,000 really good trees out in the fields.”
This year the farm also planted close to 13,000 seedlings in an effort to be well stocked for seasons to come.
Richardson Farms is open seven days each week and will cut trees from its fields through Dec. 3.
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