Neely Farms delivered six Christmas trees to the Governor’s Mansion in Montgomery on Nov. 15 that will be displayed during the holiday season.

Two of the trees were placed inside the mansion, two were positioned on the porch and two more were put on the porch of another house on the property that is only open during Christmas.

All of the trees were Leyland Cypruses and ranged from 5 to 12 feet tall.

According to Ginger Duncan, who owns and maintains the trees along with her husband Michael, the two inside trees are placed in prime viewing positions. An 8-foot tree sits at the top of the staircase, while a 12-footer was placed not far from the main entrance and will most likely be used for photo opportunities.

The trees will be showcased during tours of the mansion, which will include three candlelight tours that will be held on Dec. 4, 11 and 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission will be free to the public.

“We were very excited and honored to participate,” Ginger Duncan said. “Everybody at the mansion was wonderful to work with.”

The delivery and setup process took several hours.

Neely Farms handpicked the trees that were chosen to represent not only the family business, but also all of Chilton County.

“They trusted our judgment to pick out the best trees,” Ginger Duncan said.

For just over a decade Neely Farms has been selling Christmas trees to the people of Chilton County and the surrounding area.

However, it is no longer a hidden secret to just those in and around the county.

There is much more grown at Neely Farms than Christmas trees, which grow on five acres of land and vary from those recently planted to ones that are ready to be sold.

The two variations grown are Cyprus and Virginia Pines. Pre-cut Fraser Firs are brought in from North Carolina and also sold.

Between those grown and delivered, Ginger Duncan estimated close to 1,000 trees for the public to choose from this year.

The trees that are grown on site are not cut down until a person or family chooses it. Saws and other needed supplies are provided to cut down the trees.

The farm remains close to its roots and is not a big business, but is still very much family-run.

Ginger Duncan’s son Ethan helps out around the farm throughout the year, while other family members pitch in to help during the busy season, which is about to begin.

“My big thing was to give families a place to go and an opportunity to create a memory,” Ginger Duncan said.

Neely Farms will open for the holiday season on Nov. 24 and begin selling Christmas trees for the 11th straight year. Its first tree was planted in 2004, but it took four years before trees had matured enough to sell to the public.

“It is a yearlong job, and a lot of work goes into it, but it makes it all worth it come November and December,” Ginger Duncan said.

For more information, visit Neely Farms Christmas Trees on Facebook or call (205) 389-1831.

Neely Farms is located at 275 Dakota Road in Thorsby.