Homestead Tree Farms (HTF), a supplier of landscape trees, is located on land first homesteaded by my great grandmother, Pamelea Barnes, in 1900. Her husband, Riley, was killed in the battle of Atlanta at Peachtree Creek in 1864. She raised seven children before homesteading this farm. Needless to say, we will endeavor to keep this hard-earned land in the family! Some family history can be viewed by clicking here.
Homestead Tree Farms began in 2004 with the planting of approximately 1,000 trees, including Willow, River Birch, Crapemyrtle, Japanese Maple, and several species of Oak. Drip irrigation was installed, as the Spring of 2004 became the driest in recorded weather history in South Alabama. About 1,000 trees were added in 2005 and 2006. All trees are currently field grown.
Two of the Crapemyrtle varieties --Cheyenne and Arapoho-- are 2003 releases from the National Arboretum. HTF is one of the few field-grown operations with these varieties ready for transplanting in the Winter of 2007.
Both grafted cultivars and seedling green and red Japanese Maples are growing currently. The slow-growing grafted cultivars are years away from being saleable plants; however, a few seedling trees are ready for transplanting this Winter.
