Imagine waking up each morning and walking outside to be greeted by a field full of gentle Virginia pines, whispering in the wind, before a sea of brilliant yellow sunflowers, smiling toward the sky. Now imagine you own and grow all of them, hoping to bring joy to others. Two Bristow area residents, David and Sherri Hurst, wake each morning welcomed by that very reality.
As the Hursts set their sights on retirement, Sherri revealed to David her life’s dream. He chuckled while recounting the story of how their farm came to be: “My wife and I had been married 25 years when she said, ’You know, I’ve always wanted a Christmas tree farm.’ Hers was a lifelong dream I’d never heard from her before, and the rest is history.” With their decision made and retirement beckoning, Molly and Socks Christmas Tree Farm sprang to life. This fall ushers in its fourth season for business.
In addition to fulfilling her lifelong dream, the farm holds precious sentimental value for Sherri, but not because they named it after their first two cows, Molly and Socks. Smiling sweetly with her sparkling eyes set on the trees, she said “I believe God actually planted the seed in me to do this. We planted our first trees in November 2016, and my parents passed away in 2017. They would’ve loved it as it grew. My daddy loved to trim trees. I can see him out there among them.” And she trailed off with a soft smile on her face and blissful thoughts in mind of other families sharing Christmas traditions with them.
As for those traditions, the Hursts hope families will visit and join them for Christmas fun; after all, their farm provides two unique Christmas experiences for families to enjoy: a blooming, cheery sunflower field for Christmas in July and a very merry Christmas celebration trimming trees with them in December. Together, they noted a primary goal of Molly and Socks Christmas Tree Farm: “We wanted to create an experience for families not just to sell trees [or flowers]. We want people to come out for a tree but stay awhile and enjoy the farm and good company and create festive memories with us for years to come.” Arriving alone grants visitors a peek into the potential for creating those lasting memories.
Upon arrival to Molly and Socks, guests walk into a grove of native trees and cross over a picturesque pedestrian bridge resting peacefully above a small creek that opens to a serene, shaded area with picnic tables alongside the creek and a large fire pit that spans ten feet in diameter. Nearby, visitors find a communal play area with tetherball, basketball, and yard Jenga. Visitors may splash in the creek, picnic together, and take photos at their will. From the game area to the fire pit, visitors see Virginia pines growing in tidy rows before them. Beyond those trees and to the right, grows a hidden sea of brilliant yellow sunflowers.
This season marks their second growing sunflowers. Molly and Socks’ sunflowers span two acres, and the Hursts broadcast all seed by hand. They happily invite anyone to enjoy their flowers; however, since the farm is private property and they enjoy welcoming guests, they ask visitors to call ahead to schedule a visit or let them know who to expect. Pricing is reasonable as well, allowing anyone to create fun family memories and capture photos that last a lifetime. A single car pays only $5 and visitors may stay, play games, wander the farm, and take as many photos as they like with their own cameras. Flowers may be picked for a dollar each. For those desiring professional photos, photographers may contact the Hursts to schedule half or full-day sessions and inquire about pricing.
For this Christmas in July season, visitors still have a chance to see the sunflowers. David believes the flowers have about one more week in bloom before dying. For more information or to visit the farm, contact the Hursts through their Facebook page “Molly and Socks Christmas Tree Farm LLC” or by phone at (918) 639-3816.