The last Xmas tree sale at notable Sanbornton farm

For some people, the everyday miracle of planting and growing is enough for a lifetime.

That's the way it is for Bob Girardin of Willow Pond Farm.

He started out nurturing people — as a mathematics teacher for 40 years, first in Massachusetts high schools and then in both high schools and colleges in the Lakes Region.

Then in 1977 he expanded his vision to take in plants — specifically Christmas trees.

Now more than 30 years later he's ready to retire from his farming career. (He left teaching in 2000.)

So today and tomorrow, for the first time in many years, Willow Pond Farm on Upper Bay Road is open to the public for Christmas tree sales. There are about 7,000 trees on the land but only about 600 are grown and ready for sale. Girardin says the average price is about $45 for a tree, which isn't bad - considering that in other years you needed a personal invitation to come to Girardin's farm to purchase a tree.

That's because over the years, he's developed an international reputation as a Christmas tree expert. He consults and speaks all over the world, welcomes tree growers to his Sanbornton farm from Europe and Japan, appears in the national and international media, and writes a regular column for "Christmas Trees," the trade's quarterly full-color magazine.

"It's a passion for me," Girardin confessed.

And it's one that began young.

While he learned to become a math teacher, he always harbored a love of the farming life.

"I always wanted to own a farm," said the former Massachusetts resident. "I was always interested in agriculture. I always had a big garden."

In 1977, he purchased the 23-acre Willow Pond Farm and began working to grow Christmas trees. Most trees take seven or eight years to grow so it wasn't until 1985 that he sold his first tree. It was a modest start but he had a goal.

"There wasn't much chance of retiring on a teacher's salary," he said.

Not long after he began his Christmas tree business however the same intellectual curiosity that led him to become a teacher drew him into trying to understand as much as he could about the field. And it wasn't long before Bob began specializing in "exotics" — trees that are not native to this area of New England.

"They're not natural to the area so they won't naturally reproduce," he explained.

That meant there were some unique challenges — and some unique rewards.

One was that Bob also become involved in helping scientists create some Christmas tree hybrids.

Another was that Willow Pond Farm became known in its field and among Christmas tree connoisseurs all over New Hampshire.

"We have by far the biggest variety of trees in the state," the owner said. "It's a lot of fun here. You have all the extra expense (of a new kind of tree) but people don't mind because they know they're getting a beautiful tree."

And a level of influence in the field grew.

For instance, one of Bob's favorite trees is the Meyer spruce, which comes from China. It's big, strong and beautiful with a flash of light color and a sturdiness that can hold the heavier ornaments popular now.

"About 15 years ago I started pushing it," he said. "I got it going nationally."

Another tree he brought to the industry's attention is the Korean fir.

"When I write about something, things happen (with that tree)," he admitted.

Finally, a sense of exclusivity grew up around local farm. For a long time, the only way to buy a tree there was to be invited — either by Bob or by a friend Bob approved.

"They’d come in the second and third week of October every year," he said of his customers. "That's when they examine the trees, when they're young (only a few feet tall). They can also look at color digital photography that shows them what kind of foliage it will have when it's full-grown.

“They pick out what (kind of tree) they want and I tell them, this is where on the farm you'll find it."

The customers go down, pick out a particular tree and put a tag on it with their name.

"My customers know their trees," Bob said proudly.

Just the same he always made sure the pathway to the trees led through the area where he was growing his latest hybrids.

"People always want to know what's new," he said. "People want something different."

But ever grower knows seasons change and there’s times you have to alter your course — and this is it for Bob.

His wife Joan recently retired from a career in nursing, and since the two of them are in relatively good health, he's closing down his Christmas tree operations.

He's hoping to sell the farm this spring. He'd like it to go to someone who would carry on the work he's begun but he's open to other ideas.

The farmhouse on the property, where he and Joan live, was built in 1789 so Bob thinks the land — which includes a bass pond — would be great spot for a bed-and-breakfast.

He doesn't want to sell it to a housing developer but he wants to get his money's worth.

And since this is Girardin's last Christmas tree selling season, he's inviting anyone to stop by and pick one out.

"I'll sell off as many trees as possible, make as much money as I can on the way out," he said.