(Jefferson City, MO) — This year’s Christmas tree that will sparkle on the Governor’s Mansion lawn is from central Missouri. The Missouri Department of Conservation has chosen a 30 foot Norway Spruce from Boone County.
The evergreen has been donated by Daryl and Sherry Richardson.
For the past 30 years or more, a giant Christmas tree has glistened on the lawn of the Missouri Governor’s Mansion over the holidays. Holly Dentner, with the Missouri Department of Conservation, said the annual tradition is one that brings the state together for the holidays by seeking out a property owner’s evergreen nearing the end of its life.
“It’s just always been a really nice tradition,” said Dentner. “The governor’s lawn, you know, is used for lots of things throughout the year, so they don’t have a lot of space to plant a permanent tree – and of course trees aren’t permanent anyway. So, it’s just it’s always been one of those things where we can find a nice big tree that’s probably at the end of its lifespan, it’s grown in someone’s yard, it’s way too big, but it’s just the right size for the mansion lawn. We don’t want to take any healthy nice big tree that’s perfectly happy in its space. And unfortunately, a lot of trees, a lot of evergreens in particular, folks plant them decades ago too close to their house not thinking about, you know, 30 years later and it’s going to be way too big for that space and probably blocking windows or overtaking the lawn.”
The chosen tree will arrive at the mansion next Monday morning.
Copyright 2023, Missourinet.
