Tucked away in Box Elder County, you’ll find Petals and Pines Farm – a 19-acre farm that is on its way to becoming a bustling agri-tourism operation and growing Christmas tree farm. Started in 2022 by Bryan and Jaemye Brandon, the farm offers a variety of year-round experiences where people can create new traditions and enjoy unique experiences, all while getting a taste of life in the country. Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Jaemye and Bryan are working to bring a little Southern charm to Northern Utah.

The dream of owning their own Christmas tree farm started back in 2008 when Bryan, Jaemye, and their two children were stationed at the Columbus Airforce Base and visited their first-ever Christmas tree farm. They boarded a horse-drawn wagon, enjoyed delicious hot chocolate, and wandered around the farm until they found the perfect tree. 

“We just thought it was the coolest thing ever,” Bryan said. “It’s always been this memory that we have loved, and we knew we wanted to create this place where families and people could create their own memories.”

Jaemye (left) and Bryan Brandon at their farm in Box Elder County

“Every Christmas we would get a real tree, and it turned into something that every Christmas, Brian, myself, and the kids would think, ‘Okay, if we had a Christmas tree farm, what would we wear? What would it look like? What would we do?” Jaemye said. “We just came up with so many fun ideas and wanted to make it happen!”

While making the plans for their farm, Bryan and Jaemye were stationed at Hill Air Force Base. There, they fell in love with Utah and knew they wanted to make it their home.

“After Hill [AFB], we had moved to Atlanta for my job to be a little closer to family, and Jaemye hated it,” Bryan said. “So, six months later, we sold the house, turned around, and came right back and bought another house in South Weber. Utah is our home” 

Bryan and Jaemye had looked at several properties in Davis and Weber counties when the farm in Tremonton came on the market. While there may have been some initial hesitation about the property, they quickly realized the potential the land had once they saw it. They bought the property in March and began the work of transitioning the alfalfa field into a Christmas tree farm, all with little experience in agriculture and farming. By May of 2022, they had planted 1,000 tree plugs all by hand. 

“So now we are farmers, and it is hard,” Bryan said. “We came into this thinking ‘plant, water, grow. Easy peasy.’ And that’s not how it has been at all. It’s hard, but I love it because we haven’t stopped learning. 

As it turns out, growing Christmas trees is a challenge - even for the most experienced farmers. The trees can be temperamental and prone to root rot, which makes flood irrigation tricky. With the help of a grant from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s Agricultural Water Optimization Program, the Brandons installed a drip irrigation system to conserve water and irrigate the trees more efficiently. Additionally, they are also working on improving soil health and weed management, all while trying to find the tree species that will grow best in Utah. Some of the varieties they have planted include White Firs, Nordmann Firs, Blue Spruce, and Turkish Firs.

Santa welcoming guests to explore the variety of firs and spruces for sale.

Jaemye explained that it’s all a balance between finding a tree that can survive in Utah’s climate, while still having all the characteristics of a good Christmas tree such as shape, needle retention, and sturdy branches. So far, they have planted around 3,600 trees. 

“We’re kind of homing in on what varieties have done better for us in Utah,” she said. “I think we have found three that are doing well for us. The blue spruce has done really well, but we don’t want to keep growing it because it has bad need retention and is a slow-growing tree.” 

Bryan and Jaemye anticipate having their first U-cut Christmas trees available around 2030. Until then, they are bringing in around 150 noble fir trees to offer a U-pick experience for farm visitors. 

During the holiday season, the farm turns into a scene straight out of a Hallmark movie. Lights line the property, families wander the lot searching for the perfect tree and warm up by a fire pit, sipping delicious, homemade hot chocolate. The Brandons bring the trees in the weekend before Thanksgiving and are only open for two to three weeks after, depending on how fast the trees sell.  

“It’s really beautiful. We bring in our precut trees from Oregon and put them on t-posts so they look like they’re free-standing. It just looks how they’ll look in our field,” Bryan said. “They can walk 360 degrees around the tree and get a great look at the tree.”

At first, the plan was to only be a Christmas tree farm, but once they planned out the trees and realized how much extra space they had, Jaemye and Brandon realized there was an opportunity to welcome people to their farm year-round by offering U-pick flowers. While they may not have a background in agriculture, Bryan said that Jaemye has always had a green thumb. 

“I’ve always had a love of gardening. Growing up, I always watched my dad garden, and I think he just instilled this love of starting something from seed and watching what grows,” Jaemye said. 

So far, they have planted a variety of flowers including, poppies, sunflowers, daffodils, zinnias, marigolds, dahlias, and more. Some of the agri-tourism experiences they offer include breakfast on the farm, Sip ‘n Snip events, and general U-pick flower events.  Jaemye and Bryan want farm visitors to experience the peacefulness and quiet of life in the country, and as such, prioritize the visitor's experience for each event. Each event is limited to 15-20 pickers, and both agree that they would rather add more events before opening it up to more pickers. 

“We want it to feel bustling, but not crowded,” Jaemye said. “It’s not crowded, you aren’t fighting over flowers. There is enough space for everyone to just do their own thing.”

Out of all the events they offer, Jaemye said the Picnic in the Poppies event is by far her favorite.

“In the spring, we have a quarter acre of poppies where we set up an English tea picnic catered by a lady down in Salt Lake,” Jaemye said. “It’s a very private event, so the family or couple who is there has the whole poppy field to themselves for an hour and a half.” 

In the end, Bryan and Jaemye are hoping that Petals and Pines Farm will be a place where people can start new traditions and participate in unique experiences. They both agree that one of the most rewarding experiences has been seeing the same people return year after year, and getting to be a part of their family traditions. 

“We just want people to feel like they’re visiting family,” Jaemye said. “We have young couples who’ve been coming the past couple of years who have made it their tradition, and one day I will be able to meet their babies, and I just love that.”

You can stay up to date with Jaemye, Bryan, and their farm by following them on Instagram @PetalsandPinesFarm, or by visiting their website petalsandpinesfarm.com.