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The Name Sugarland The name Sugarland was derived from the nickname given to MRS. Smith. (Aka SUGARMOM!) She was born with the given name of Charlotte Gertrude Nix in Louisville, KY. Since she was a baby she was called SUGGIE (as in Sugar). She has been known to anyone who knows her, by this name. As she got older it was shortened to SUG (as in Sugar). Hence everything around her carries on the tradition. We have Sugarland Tree Farm, Sugarhaus, a boat named Sugar, the grandparents are SugarMom and SugarPop. Even the street is named Sugarland Place. Now to the history of Sugarland Having lived in Atlanta, Chamblee, Decatur and South Dekalb for most of our lives we decided to move to the country . We purchased 21 acres in Henry County in 1982 to build a new home. I am one of those people that if I own something that has potential for income I must put it to work. I certainly didn’t want something that all I can do with it is work on it. About that time there was an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution about Christmas Tree Farms. Having been to a couple of these farms I knew what they were about and what they did. After reading the article I did some research and determined what it would take to grow Christmas Trees. Most all the information came from other growers and the Georgia Christmas Tree association. It didn’t look too hard and I would have a good excuse to obtain tractors, mowers, tools etc. You know men’s toys! My wife thought I had lost it but reluctantly joined in. Since I now had permission, in 1983 we ordered our first 1000 Virginia Pine trees from a nursery in Kentucky. Man, was I ever wrong about the work involved! After many starts and stops and reworks we finally got the first trees in the ground. For the first 5 years we planted 1000 trees per year. Meanwhile we sprayed for all kinds of bugs& weeds. Each and every tree had to be pruned twice a year and care must be taken to grow them straight and full. We’ve had storms blow over entire fields, they have been drowned with too much rain, autos running off the driveway and hitting them. Deer have pulled out the seedlings right after planting and now I have grand kids that run over them on 4 wheelers. Oh well, what’s next? We sold our first trees 1n 1988 from under a tarp and it rained practically the entire selling season. With all the family help (we have a large family) we managed to make it through and, I must say we all have a blast and now it is a FAMILY TRADITION. Starting about the first of October each year Sug and I start the preliminary setup. I work on the trees and the Sugarhaus and Sug gets the insides setup with her arrangements she has made during the summer and she does most of the exterior decorating. During Thanks giving week, out of town guests start showing up to assist in completing the setup. Each year we have a skeet shoot then eat dinner and then we head to the fields to tag trees and complete the setup. Most of them enjoy it so much they stay until the following Sunday and always leave with a tree, wreath or something from the Sugarhaus. We have many, many repeat customers that come back each year just for the atmosphere that is generated at that time of the year!! We invite you to do the same!! Come and join us at this glorious time of the year!!
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