Michigan's own Korson's Tree Farms is marking a festive milestone by providing the official White House Christmas tree for the first time since 1985. The concolor fir, which stands tall at 22 feet, was selected for the notable spot in the White House's Blue Room and was delivered to First Lady Melania Trump on Monday, as reported by FOX 17. The tree's journey from Korson's Tree Farm in Montcalm County culminated in a grand arrival, complete with a horse-drawn sled presentation to the First Lady.
The farm owners, Rex and Jessica Korson, had to quickly find a tree meeting the exacting standards required for the White House following their victory in the National Christmas Tree Association's National Tree Contest. "After winning the contest ... immediately your focus shifts to ‘OK, what’s next, now we need to find a tree large enough to fit the standard for what they need for the White House and for the Blue Room," Rex Korson told WOOD-TV in an interview. This marks a significant achievement for the family-owned business that has been operating since 1973.
Adding to the tree's unique charm is its scent; the concolor fir is known for emitting a citrus-like fragrance. "One of the unique features about a concolor fir is it has a citrus fragrance — if you grab a needle off a concolor fir and break it and smell it, it smells like an orange,” Rex Korson explained to The Detroit News. The selection of this Michigan-grown tree for the White House continues a tradition of celebrating the holiday season with a natural symbol of festivity and tradition.
