Once predominantly farmland, Augusta's Tobacco Road area now is filled with homes, schools, churches and shopping centers -- except for five acres where about 5,000 Christmas trees are growing.

"This is my seventh year selling trees," said Matthew Gay, who has won numerous awards for his Leyland cypresses, Carolina Sapphires and Murray cypresses. They are nurtured from seeds in his greenhouse, then planted for the holiday season.

At the Georgia National Fair in Perry last month, Mr. Gay earned accolades for his trees for the fourth year. He has finished with the best-of-show award for three years, including this year, and his other finish was second-best overall.

His trees have been part of the Christmas dÃcor at the Governor's Mansion for several years.

With all of his success, Mr. Gay wants to give back to the community. This year some of his trees will be donated to the Trees for Troops program, which provides free Christmas trees to service members.

"The more I've learned about it, the more I wish I had gotten involved sooner," he said.

In 2007, more than 750 farmers in 29 states donated almost 17,000 trees to the program, according to the Trees for Troops Web site, www.treesfortroops.org. Dec. 5-7 has been designated Trees for Troops weekend.

Shoppers at Mr. Gay's tree farm will be able to purchase a tree to be donated to the program. The shoppers can sign a specially prepared tag that will be sent to a recipient along with the tree.

Mr. Gay's Christmas tree farm will open for the season at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 28. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to dark Saturdays, 1 p.m. until dark Sundays and 2 p.m. to dark Monday through Friday.

The farm is at 2335 Tobacco Road.