Dan's Papers - December 21, 2007 - Hampton Tradition XVIII

For many families the Holiday season begins with the purchase of their Christmas tree. The smell of fresh cut pine engulfs you as you step out of your car and into the Christmas tree forest. For many, stepping into that forest brings back a whole host of wonderful holiday memories. In Bridgehampton, at Route 27 and Lockwood, there is a Santa Claus in front of the Small Potato Nursery waving to cars. The nursery has been selling Christmas trees during the holiday season for over twenty-five years. The trees sold there are hand picked in Nova Scotia by owner Elizabeth Linker every year. Ms. Linker drives all the way up to Canada because she wants to have the highest quality Christmas trees. Her selection consists of Nova Scotia Firs and Fraser Firs. She predicts that she will sell about 1,000 trees during this holiday season, broken down to about 650 cut trees and 350 planted trees. Prices for cut trees range from $20 a tree to a 17-foot Fraser Fir priced at $225.

Ms. Linker has owned the Small Potato Nursery for the last eleven years and prides herself on doing a great job of picking the trees. Besides the plentiful and varied sizes of cut trees, there is a fine selection of pine trees to be planted. A planted ten-foot Norway Spruce sells for $630. Besides the Christmas trees, Small Potato also sells wreaths, garlands and Paperwhites. Ms. Linker made a point of showing me the lovely Star of Bethlehem they offer, which is cut fresh, comes from Israel and can only be bought this time of year. She beamed with pride when she said, "My dad use to bring them home to my mom on Christmas Eve." The Winter Berry or Ilex, a traditional favorite to many, is also in good supply.

"I couldn't do all this without my husband, Bob's, support," said Ms. Linker. The couple owns a few other nurseries in the Hamptons including Irony in Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor, Hedges and Gardens in East Hampton and Hamptons Greens Keeper in Wainscott. Friendly, knowledgeable and loyal employee Craig Kitt helped the Linkers load a 14-foot Fraser Fir into a truck for their home. He went out of his way to emphasize that that is not a chore he normally does but was proud that he helped with the big tree. After all, 14 feet is four feet higher than the basket on a basketball court. "But next year, I want to go with a 17-footer," Ms. Linker said as she pointed to the prize tree standing tall above all the rest.

Ms. Linker showed me around the yard to show that the trees this year are the best trees ever. They were all thickly branched and healthy looking, and sales are up from last year. "It is important to have more trees than you can sell so that everyone, no matter when they are buying, has a selection," explained Ms. Linker. With wonderful Christmas music beaming from the speakers around the yards, I watched as Daphne and Sarah Hoge selected their Christmas tree with Ms. Linker leading them right to the one she knew they would love.

Ms. Linker also explained a special arrangement she has with Stella Maris School in Sag Harbor. Besides donating four trees to the school, 20% of the profits of trees purchased by Stella Maris students and their families go back to the school. It was also Ms. Linker's idea to have Santa standing on Montauk Highway, waving to passing cars. Over the last eleven years, seven different men have had the honor of this job.

At Small Potato Nursery all planted trees are discounted 15% this year. The loyal customers come from as far as Brookhaven and many have made their visit to Small Potato Nursery an annual Christmas tradition.

So next time you drive by Santa Claus, remember some of the best Christmas trees for sale in the Hamptons are right behind him. The nursery is open seven days a week during the holiday season from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.