Arizona
Gigantic evergreen tree brings Christmas spirit to Arizona Capitol. How it got there
The holiday spirit has arrived on the steps of the Arizona Capitol.
San Carlos Apache Tribal Chairman Terry Rambler gifted a 40-foot ponderosa pine tree to Gov. Katie Hobbs on Monday. The tree arrived at the capital on Friday.
“We know this tree will be used to spread holiday warmth and cheer, and it is our hope that it will further serve as a reminder of the natural beauty that exists within our great state and the deep roots the San Carlos Apache have in this region,” Rambler said.
The San Carlos Apache Tribe and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management picked out the enormous tree from the Point of Pines area, northeast of Globe. Together, they harvested it on Nov. 22.
“The Capitol Christmas tree from the San Carlos Apache Tribe is a beautiful gift to Arizona,” Hobbs said in a statement. “We are honored to receive a tree from a Tribal nation for the second year in a row. As we deepen relationships with Tribal communities, this tree celebrates the vibrant cultures that make Arizona so special.”
Due to its enormous size, the now decked-out tree was cut down to 20 feet to fit within the Capitol Rotunda.
A lighting ceremony will be held on Monday.
The ponderosa pine, a type of yellow pine, lives at elevations typically above 5,000 feet along the Mogollon Rim and other higher elevations in Arizona. The San Carlos Apache Tribal Reservation is noted for one of the largest contiguous stands of this evergreen conifer in the world.