OAK GROVE — Bloise Zeigler has been selling Christmas trees for the past 13 years. This year he has a new customer — the governor of the state.A 12-foot-tall Leyland cypress was delivered Tuesday from Zeigler Christmas Tree Farm to the governor’s mansion in Montgomery and will grace the first family’s music room.
"What a lovely addition the Christmas tree from my very own home county will be in the governor’s mansion," first lady Patsy Riley said. "I’m thankful that we have so many giving Alabamians and I truly appreciate Mr. Zeigler’s generosity."
Carol Higginbotham, who along with her husband, Tony, is operating the business this year, said she was thrilled to supply a tree to the Riley family, with guests and visitors touring the mansion seeing the tree as part of the holiday display.
Zeigler, 92, said selling the trees still brings him joy. Each year, he reminds every person as they leave, "Don’t forget whose birthday we’re celebrating.
"My wife, Bernice, used to bring children, kindergarten kids, down to the farm and talk to them about Christmas and what it’s really about," he said. "That’s been one of the greatest pleasures to me."
The Zeiglers planted seeds in 1974 and four years later sold their first Christmas tree. There have been as many as 21,000 trees spanning across the 24-acre farm. This holiday Zeigler has 3,481 trees pruned and ready to be taken home.
Row upon row of Leyland cypress and Carolina Sapphire trees can be found, which Zeigler said he hopes will "bring families out here and be together because there’s just something about the outdoors and Christmas.
"The Christmas trees have been such a wonderful part of my life," he said. "I had a woman come up with her 12-year-old son one time and she said that he was being baptized that next day. See, she and her husband had been here 12 years before, newly married. When people are open and receptive to the word of Christ and think about the meaning of what we are celebrating, this is what makes you think you’ve done a little good going along the way."
After every Thanksgiving for the past five years until this year, Zeigler and his son Alan have geared up for tree shopping season, but preparations start well before November. In early summer all the trees must be pruned into perfect shape, with all work done by hand, and the field must be mowed about twice a week. After a second pruning in August, the trees are ready for the holidays, Zeigler said.
Carol Higginbotham said she wants everyone to know they can get a tree just as amazing as the one sent to the governor’s family, because unlike most businesses, making a profit is not the most important thing they focus on.
Over the years, the Zeiglers have donated money from the tree farm to local organizations and charities and even offered free trees one year to families in financial need.
"We’ve never been in it to get rich," Zeigler said. "The Christmas trees have been more of a witness than anything. I love to be able to do things for others because all you carry with you is what you leave behind."
