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Looking for a Cat Cafe in Norman? Meet Big Cat at Wells Christmas Tree Farm.
We see the searches for "cat cafe Norman OK." We're not an official one — but Big Cat, our resident coffee-shop cat of ten years, has been running The Pines like it's his own personal cat cafe the whole time.
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Virginia Pines, an Oklahoma Drought, and How to Water a Tree
We had a television crew out here in August. KOCO 5 sent meteorologist Joseph Neubauer down to walk the rows and ask how the heat was treating the trees. Fair question. It was the kind of August where you quit checking the forecast because you already know. Here's the honest answer, and then the part that's actually useful to you: what we do to keep a field of Virginia Pines alive through an Oklahoma drought, and what you can do for the trees in your own yard. What this summer actually was Statewide, August 2026 came in as the third-warmest and fifth-driest August on the books going back to 1895 — the Oklahoma Mesonet logged 0.85 inches of rain for the month, about two and a third inches short. As of the first week of September, the U.S. Drought Monitor had every acre of Oklahoma in moderate drought or worse. Our own numbers matched: across one 16-day window in late August we ran a shortfall around six inches of water, sixteen straight days of triple digits, and 1.8 millimeters of rain — total, on one day. Soil temperature four inches down hit 102 degrees. That's not a stressed root zone. That's an oven. Why we grow Virginia Pine, and what it costs us The choose-and-cut trees in our field are Virginia Pines, and that's not a preference. It's the species that will actually live here. Virginia Pine handles heat, poor ground, and the heavy red clay most of Cleveland County sits on. Its seedlings tolerate low soil moisture better than most pines, and once established it puts down roots that carry it through a dry summer without much help from us. A Fraser fir would be dead in that field by its second July — firs want cool nights and mountain drainage, and Oklahoma offers neither. The trade-off is real and we'll say it out loud: Virginia Pine has stiffer, shorter needles and a more open natural habit than a fir. It takes serious shearing every year to shape it, and it won't hold a heavy ornament the way a Fraser will. What it will do is grow here. That's why our field trees are pines and why we truck in pre-cut firs for the families who want one. How we water — and what we don't claim to know The field runs on drip. Two zones, both manual faucets, tape down the rows with an emitter every twelve inches. Nothing fancy. What's changed is how we decide when to turn it on. Instead of watering when it feels hot, we keep a running water balance: reference evapotranspiration — how much water the atmosphere pulled out of the ground that day — minus whatever rain fell, added up day over day. When the number gets big enough, that zone gets a long soak. Rain nets itself out, which is the whole point. "It's 104 out" and "the ground is dry" are different facts, and only one should open a valve. Two honest limits. That deficit is a reference figure — atmospheric demand, not exactly what a given tree drank. We deliberately don't dress it up with a crop coefficient, because the right number for young conifers under drip isn't settled and a made-up one would look more precise than it is. And our field is one- through five-year-old stock mixed through all forty-odd rows, which don't want the same watering at all. So we size for the young trees — they're the ones that die in a week without water. The mature pines get what's left and live on roots and rain, which is exactly what the species is built for. For the seedlings the answer turned out to be a long soak roughly weekly rather than a daily sprinkle. Which is the same lesson that applies to your yard. What to do for your own trees Water deep, not often Most people get this backwards. OSU Extension is consistent on it: water deeply and infrequently. A daily fifteen minutes of sprinkler keeps the top inch damp and teaches roots to stay shallow, right where the soil bakes first. One long, slow soak every week or two drives water down where roots can live on it. Slow matters on clay. Norman ground takes water at its own pace — put it down fast and most of it runs into the street. A hose on a trickle, moved around the tree over an hour or two, beats a sprinkler every time. So does a five-gallon bucket with a nail hole in the bottom. Water the drip line, not the trunk The feeder roots that take up water aren't at the trunk. They're spread under and past the outer edge of the canopy — the drip line — in the top foot of soil. Watering the trunk soaks the one part of the tree that least needs it and can invite rot at the collar. Work the ring under the branch tips and a little beyond. Mulch two to four inches, and keep it off the bark Two to four inches, per OSU, does more work than anything else you can do in an afternoon: holds moisture, moderates soil temperature, keeps grass from competing for the same water. But pull it back a few inches from the trunk. Mulch against bark stays wet, and wet bark rots and invites borers. Doughnut, not volcano. Water early, and don't help in the wrong direction Early morning is best — less lost to evaporation than midday, and foliage dries before dark, which matters for disease. Evening is second-best and still far better than skipping it. Two things not to do to a stressed tree: don't fertilize and don't prune hard. Both push new growth, and new growth needs more water than the tree can currently find. Save both for a wetter year. Know what stress looks like on an evergreen A deciduous tree tells on itself fast: leaves wilt, edges scorch, and it may color up early in August like it's October. You get a warning. Evergreens are quieter, and that's what makes them dangerous. A stressed pine or spruce goes dull — the green loses its shine and flattens to gray-green. Needles brown from the tip inward, and older inner needles go first while the tips still look fine. Growth tips droop. By the time a whole conifer is visibly brown it's often past saving. Watch for the color going flat, because a needle can't wilt the way a leaf does. Water in the fall — this is the one people skip When the heat breaks, everybody stops watering. Don't, not entirely. Trees go into winter on whatever soil moisture is there, and evergreens keep losing water through their needles all winter while frozen ground gives none back. That's winter burn, and it shows up in February on a tree that looked fine in September. A couple of deep soaks in late fall, before the ground freezes, is cheap insurance — most of all on newly planted trees and evergreens, and on anything planted in the last two or three years, which has a root ball rather than a root system and can't go find water yet. One more piece of this belongs in December rather than September: keeping a cut tree drinking once it is standing in your living room. That is its own short guide, and we will put it up when the season starts. The long view A Christmas tree is a six-to-eight year crop. The trees we cut this December went in when different weather was normal, and the seedlings we planted this spring will be somebody's tree in the early 2030s. You're always deciding for a season you can't see yet, and that never shows up on a weather map. We lost trees this summer. Every grower in the state did. But the field is standing, the pines are the right species for this ground, and we'll be open. If you've got a tree in your yard you're worried about, come find one of us — we're usually somewhere between the rows and the coffee shop, and we'll talk trees with anybody. Slow down on the farm. Wells Christmas Tree Farm is at 4091 E Franklin Rd in Norman. The Pines Coffee Shop & Event Center is open year-round.
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Football Season, and the Last One Like It
Opening day. If you asked Katy what my favorite day of the year is, she wouldn't say Christmas Eve, and she wouldn't say the first Saturday we open the gate. She'd say today. There's no good reason for it. Nothing has happened yet. Nobody's won anything. But the first Saturday of OU football is the day the whole rest of the year gets its shape, and around here that shape has always had a second half to it: football starts, and then Christmas comes. Two seasons that run on the same clock People assume a Christmas tree farm is a December business. It isn't. December is when you find out how you did. The work is all the rest of it. And the farm calendar happens to lay right on top of the football calendar, which is either a coincidence or the reason I've never minded either one. Shearing wraps up in the summer heat. By the opener the trees have set their shape for the year and there's not much left to do to them but wait. September and October are the long middle — ordering, mowing, fixing what broke, watching the pre-cut firs get scheduled onto a truck somewhere in the mountains. Then the season turns, and it turns fast. By the time the games start meaning something in November, we're stringing lights and counting cups. So the two things have never been separate in this house. Saturdays are for the game. The rest of the week is for the trees. And when the season winds down, ours is just getting started. The part that's different this year Our son Luke is a senior at OU. He graduates in December. He's an equipment manager for the football team, which means that on the Saturdays we're watching, he's already been at the stadium for hours and will be there for hours after. It's not a glamorous job. It's a job where everything going right means nobody notices you, and I don't know a better description of the work I respect most. You can pick him out, if you're looking. He's on the visiting team's sideline, carrying the footballs. He will also, in all likelihood, be standing directly in front of the other team's head coach. He has a job to do and a place to stand, and he does exactly what he's told — it isn't his fault where they tell him to stand. That's the part of him I recognize. He likes a good challenge, he doesn't rattle, and he does not back down. Which is more or less the job description out here too. Nothing about growing trees in Oklahoma clay rewards backing down. Here's the thing I keep turning over. Luke was eleven years old when we planted the first trees. Eleven. Small enough that a seedling and a boy weren't that different in height, and I have pictures to prove it. Those first trees are gone now — cut, hauled home, in somebody's living room years ago, replaced twice over by trees that were planted after he'd already grown taller than they were. That's the arithmetic of this business. A tree takes six to eight years to get to somebody's living room. A kid takes about the same amount of time to go from eleven to eighteen, and then another four on top of that, and you don't notice either one happening because you're looking at it every single day. You measure the trees. You never think to measure the kid. So this fall lands a little differently. Football season starts today, and it ends around the time Luke walks. Our season starts in November and ends about a week after that. Everything we do here is set up in cycles that come back around every year — the same rows, the same shearing, the same lights in the same places, the same families we've watched grow up in the parking lot. This one doesn't come back around. It's the last fall where all of it lines up like this, and Katy and I are both aware of it in a way we haven't quite talked about out loud. He'd tell us we're being dramatic. He'd be right. We're going to be dramatic anyway. Come watch a game with us If you're looking for somewhere to start a game-day Saturday, The Pines is open, the coffee's good, and you get to drink it looking at twelve acres of evergreens instead of a parking lot. It's about fifteen minutes from campus and considerably easier to park at. The farm opens for the season on November 21. Choose-and-cut Virginia Pines are first come, first served — we don't hold those, we just keep growing them. The pre-cut firs are a different story: those come in on a truck, there's a fixed number of them, and when they're gone they're gone. If you want one, pre-orders are open now. Between now and then, we've got a lot of Saturdays. Come see us on one of them. Slow down on the farm. Boomer. — Jesse
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Unique Mother's Day Gift Ideas for 2026 — From the Farm to Her Door
Mother's Day is May 10th, and if you're still scrambling for ideas the night before, this list is for you. We put together our favorite gift ideas — a mix of things we carry in our gift shop at The Pines and picks from around the web that we'd actually give to our own moms. 1. A Morning at The Pines Sometimes the best gift is time together. Bring mom out to The Pines for a handcrafted latte, fresh pastries, and a stroll through the gift shop on the farm. No wrapping required. Free to visit. Drinks start at $4. Open Tues-Fri 6:30am-1pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 10am-4pm, closed Monday.See our menu 2. Mom's Lunch at The Pines — April 18 This one's special. An intimate, invitation-style spring lunch designed from the ground up to celebrate moms. Every ticket includes catered lunch, dessert, a flower bar, mimosa bar, custom t-shirt, a curated surprise gift, private gift shop access, and professional photography with a full gallery. $50 per ticket. Limited seating.Get tickets before they're gone 3. A Candle That Actually Fills the Room We carry locally made candles in our gift shop that smell incredible — not the waxy, barely-there kind. If you can't make it to the farm, here are some of our favorite candle brands on Amazon that we'd put up against anything: Shop soy candle gift sets on Amazon 4. A Cozy Throw Blanket Moms love a good blanket. It's not flashy, but it gets used every single day. A quality throw in a neutral color works for the couch, the porch, or curling up with coffee. Shop throw blankets on Amazon 5. Fresh Flowers (or a Flower Subscription) You can never go wrong with flowers. But instead of a one-time bouquet, consider a monthly flower subscription — it's the gift that keeps showing up at her door. Shop flower subscriptions on Amazon 6. A Nice Coffee Mug We sell our Bison Coffee Mugs in our coffee shop, gift shop and online — and if you want to ship something, a beautiful ceramic mug paired with a bag of good coffee is a simple win. Shop coffee mugs on Amazon 7. A Journal or Devotional For the mom who needs five quiet minutes with her coffee. A guided journal or devotional is a thoughtful, personal gift that says "I see you." Shop journals and devotionals on Amazon 8. An Experience on the Farm Book a photography session, a private event, or a night in the Above The Pines Guest Suite. Give mom a memory instead of a thing. Book the Guest Suite — king bed, balcony, farm views Plan a private gathering — brunch, dinner, or celebration at The Pines Still Stuck? Come browse our gift shop at The Pines. We just got back from Market and the shelves are full of new locally made goods, home decor, candles, clothing, and unique finds. We'll help you pick something perfect. The Pines Coffee Shop & Gift Shop4091 E Franklin Rd, Norman, OK 73026(405) 887-1298 This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely use and love.
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"World's Best Cup of Coffee" — Buddy the Elf Was Right (and It's in Norman, OK)
"You did it! Congratulations! World's best cup of coffee! Great job, everybody!"
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A Year in the Life of Wells Christmas Tree Farm
At Wells Christmas Tree Farm, the magic of Christmas is a year-round labor of love. From planting seedlings in February to unloading semi-trucks of trees in November, every season brings its own challenges and joys. As we prepare for our busiest time of year, we’re reminded of the hard work, community spirit, and passion that make the farm a place where holiday traditions are born. This year, we’re especially excited about a major surprise improvement coming in January—stay tuned for updates!
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The Wells Family: A Legacy of Community and Christmas Spirit
At Wells Christmas Tree Farm, we believe that Christmas isn’t just about finding the perfect tree—it’s about spreading joy and lifting others. Since our opening, we’ve been blessed with unexpected opportunities to connect deeply with our community through meaningful acts of kindness. One of our most memorable experiences came in 2017 when a single mother and her children, who had traveled miles for their tree, found themselves surprised with a free one, farm apparel, and holiday treats. Their joy and gratitude turned a regular day into something truly special, grounding us in the purpose of our work. Our team is encouraged to watch for families who may need extra help, and each year brings a fresh opportunity to make a difference. We cherish the time we spent with a father and son navigating a difficult period, welcoming them to the farm on a closed day to share a joyful afternoon. Then there’s Margaret, a young girl paralyzed by an accident who received one of our unique purple Christmas trees and the unforgettable chance to meet the OU Women’s Gymnastics Team. This incredible memory reminds us of the powerful, lasting connections created by simple gestures of kindness. One of our most recent acts of giving was an especially profound moment for us: a customer who had been putting her life back together came to pick up what she thought would be a free tree, only to receive much more—a car generously donated by a community member. The pure emotion of that moment, as keys were handed over, made us feel truly blessed to witness such life-changing kindness. We also regularly partner with local nonprofits to make an impact year-round. Supporting our community has become the heartbeat of our farm, and we feel a profound sense of gratitude each time we’re able to make a difference. It’s these moments of unexpected generosity that fill us with purpose and inspire us to keep growing this tradition. And if you know someone who could use a little extra cheer this holiday season, please reach out—we’re always eager to bring light to those who need it most.
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Our Inspiration
Our journey began in 2001 as a couple, and in 2005, our son brought us the joy of parenthood. By 2013, we acquired land, and in 2014, our dream home was built. That first Christmas in our new home sparked the idea for our farm. Visiting a local tree farm awakened our love for the holiday spirit, and we knew we wanted to bring that magic to others. By 2015, we were learning the ropes and fully committed to creating a space for families to make lasting Christmas memories.
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Our Story: How Wells Christmas Tree Farm Began
Welcome to Wells Christmas Tree Farm! Our journey began in 2013 when we bought our land and built our dream home. Inspired by a visit to a local tree farm, we planted our first Christmas trees in 2015. Today, we grow 1,500 trees on 2 acres, hosting events like movie nights and a Christmas market to create lasting family memories. Our farm thrives on the support of our community, and we’re excited to keep growing, expanding, and sharing holiday traditions with you!
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