Getting an advance peek inside, one can see the top of the 85 foot Ponderosa Pine selected to be displayed in Washington, D.C. as the nation's Christmas Tree this year. The tree was originally 85' tall and was 70 years old at the time of its removal from the forest. Due to height considerations, the tree needed to be trimmed down to 65'.
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Capitol Christmas Tree
The 2009 Capitol Christmas Tree touched down in Payson briefly Tuesday night on its cross country journey to Washington D.C. Some 500 residents turned out to catch a glimpse of the 64-foot blue spruce from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. This is the first time a Capitol tree has come from Arizona since 1970, when the tradition of giving a Christmas tree, known as the “People’s Tree,” to Congress began. Last year, a 73-foot subalpine fir from Bitterroot National Forest in Montana was selected. In celebration of the tree and his upcoming retirement in January, Jim Payne, Arizona issues management/regional media officer with the Forest Service, grew out his beard, giving himself an uncanny resemblance to Santa Clause. Payne is an official escort for the tree and will stay with it on its 3,000 mile, three-week tour.
November 12, 2009
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