
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 4, 1994                   TAG: 9411040092
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WHERE'S THE FAIREST CHRISTMAS TREE OF ALL?

King Arthur searched for the Holy Grail, Ponce de Leon looked for the fountain of youth. And for years, "Elvis lives" fanatics have hunted juke joints and greasy spoons for the king of rock 'n' roll.

The city of Roanoke also is on a quest, although it's a bit tamer.

A handful of self-described "tree-huggers" are scouring the back yards and hillsides of the Roanoke Valley for the perfect pine, Roanoke's official Christmas tree for 1994.

The lucky winner will be yanked from its peaceful roots, dragged downtown to Lee Plaza and weighted down with glittering decorations. On Thanksgiving night, city officials will throw the switch in a tree-lighting ceremony and pay homage to the tree's former owner.

After New Year's Day, it will get carted off to the dump.

"We've been doing this for years ... since 1979," said Marilyn Arbogast, the city horticulturist and a member of the informal tree selection committee. The search runs through Wednesday.

When it comes to tree-choosing, the committee is downright picky. Not just any tree will do.

First of all, it has to be at least 20 feet tall - 30 feet would be even better. Two other musts: a single trunk, and a single top. It has to be shapely and full - fat or skinny won't make the cut.

"We don't want something that is 10 feet tall - it has to make a presence down there," Arbogast said. "It has to be visible."

Cedars are out, because they turn brown and lose their needles quickly. White pines and spruces are best, but a fir will do in a pinch.

To be fair, Arbogast and tree-picking cohorts Laban Johnson and Dan Henry aren't asking that homeowners hand over their horticultural pride and joys. What they're looking for is more akin to an unwanted orphan.

"Most of these trees have to come down anyway - they're either too close to power lines, or their owners fear they'll blow down and land on the house. Some have simply outgrown the property," she said.

Got a likely candidate? Give Arbogast a call at 981-2630 no later than Wednesday. Along with Santa, you could be the guest of honor at the lighting ceremony.

by CNB