Montanans Asked to Help Pick U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree
When Christmas celebrations begin at the U.S. Capitol this year, they’ll be in the presence of a giant pine tree from Montana.
"Basically, every year, a different forest of the National Forest System supplies a Christmas tree for the nation's capitol and, in 2017, the Christmas tree will come from the Kootenai National Forest in northwest Montana," said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Elizabeth Slown.
The tree will be harvested next November, but the Forest Service is asking the public to help pick the capitol tree now.
"We'd love it if people have a favorite tree that they wanted to submit for consideration," Slown said. "The trees are generally between 60 and 85 feet tall. We do have to get some equipment in to harvest the tree, so consider that, it can't be smack dab in the middle of nowhere."
Last year, the capitol tree came from Idaho, and was shipped to D.C. on a flatbed truck, that was escorted through Montana by the Montana Highway Patrol. Montana is a frequent Christmas tree contributor, in 2008, the capitol tree came from the Bitterroot National Forest.