The Missouri Department of Conservation is asking residents to submit entries for its annual search for a Christmas tree for use on the governor’s mansion lawn in Jefferson City.
A news release says MDC is asking landowners, homeowners, businesses, and communities that may have possible candidate trees to contact the organization as all entries must be submitted by October 10. Residents are asked to take multiple photos of candidate trees and send them with contact information via mail or email.
A candidate tree must be about 40 feet tall and be an eastern red cedar, Norway spruce, or white pine that is fully branched on all sides and accessible by large equipment. The right tree may either be near the end of its life or may need to be removed for other reasons. Once selected, MDC staff will coordinate the cutting and delivery of the tree to the governor’s mansion at no cost to the owner. The donor will receive a thank-you from the governor and an invitation to the lighting ceremony, which usually occurs the first week of December.
Residents are asked to take photos of candidate trees and email them to holidaytrees@mdc.mo.gov., or mailed to: Missouri Department of Conservation, ATTN: Mansion Christmas Tree, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
Full guidelines are available at mdc.mo.gov, and for more information or questions, contact the MDC’s Forestry Division at (573) 751-4115, ext. 3110.