Capitol Xmas tree stops in Valley

ALPINE, Ariz. -- The nation's Capitol Christmas tree -- an 85-foot blue spruce from Arizona's White Mountains -- made stops around the Valley Thursday.

The tree was cut Saturday on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest near Alpine, then put on a flatbed trailer for a three-week trip to Washington, D.C.

"It's beautiful, it's uniform and a blue spruce like that is going to represent this state well and show people all over the country that Arizona is not just desert," said Jim Payne of the Forest Service.

Payne is among those accompanying the tree on its journey. It made earlier stops in Show Low, Payson and Prescott.

The tree was to be at Rio Vista Community Park in Peoria from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Thursday, at Glendale City Hall from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and at the state Capitol from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Rick Davalos, also with the Forest Service, said keeping the tree fresh during its trip is a challenge.

"We're taking a lot of precautions to keep the tree good and fresh. We want to make sure we get them a good looking, nice tree and I think we're going to do that."

The tree eventually will be recycled.

"Once it's on the ground and in place and then lit on the 8th of December, it will be there until early January. And then that tree will be mulched and that mulch will end up in the flower beds and areas around the Capitol," said Payne.

Tom Holl with Canyon Creek Logging sawed down the tree in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest near Alpine last Saturday. It was then gently lifted onto a flatbed trailer by two heavy cranes.

"It's a great honor. Unbelievable. Chance of a lifetime and I'm very, very lucky," said Holl.

Unscripted, two bald eagles circled the tree at the exact moment it was cut.

The tree, the first from Arizona to be the center of the nation's Christmas season, was found by Monica Boehning with the Forest Service. She likened the process to the "final four" college basketball finals, with the huge blue spruce emerging as the national champion.

"I hope that it shows we're just not desert," Boehning said. "It's one of those that jumped out at me. I nominated four trees, but I had a feeling that this would be a top contender. I feel like a proud mother."

A crowd of more than 500 people gathered for the cutting -- among them Marshall Trimble, Arizona's official state historian.

He echoed Boehning's belief that the tree will give the world an expanded view of Arizona -- that it is more than sage brush, saguaros and beautiful sunsets.

"It's our tree, it's going to be seen by millions of people," said Trimble. "It's going to be paraded across the country, it's going to be boasting Arizona everywhere it goes."

Trimble believes the tree and the holiday season will take people's minds off the hard times right now.

"I think Christmas takes us back to childhood days," he said. "It reminds us, we all go back to our childhood and we have selective fond memories of that."

Payne said providing the tree is a huge honor for Arizona.

"Between the kids making over 10,000 ornaments, which is awesome and then the involvement for the state and all the companies and corporations, every little bit that people are doing to volunteer to help us," said Payne. Arizona school children have crafted the ornaments.

The 7,000-pound tree was sprayed with a moisture retainer several days before it was cut. It is expected to drink hundreds of gallons of water through a rubber bladder bag that will be placed at the trunk's end. Burlap covering the tree also will help extend its life.

During its cross-country tip, the tree will be encased in a vinyl cover to protect it from road sales, oils and freezing weather.

On the Net:

• www.capitolchristmastree2009.org