It’s here! Christmas tree arrives at SC State House

South Carolina’s Christmas tree arrived at the State House in Columbia on Monday. And it has a special story in the wake of this year’s floods.

This year’s tree is a 35-foot white fir from Pinetum Christmas Tree Farm in Swanton, Md.

While perfect for Palmetto trees, South Carolina’s warm climate is not conducive for growing the trees needed to support the large number of lights and decorations on the state Christmas tree.

The Columbia Garden Club and the Garden Club of South Carolina procure the state’s Christmas tree each year. This will be the fourth year they work with the Maryland farm. Pinetum owners Marshall and Cindy Stacy, who own a vacation house in the Lowcountry, consider South Carolina their second home. In years past, the garden clubs raised money to purchase the tree. In light of October’s historic flood and having experienced the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy themselves, the Stacys felt compelled to donate this year’s tree.

“They know what we’re going through and how a natural disaster impacts the community,” says Jane Suggs of the Columbia Garden Club. “Their generosity really touched us, and we wanted to pay their kindness forward. The garden clubs will be donating the funds we raised for the tree to the ongoing flood relief efforts in our state.”

The state Christmas tree’s journey to the State House is a special ritual for Bruce Vollnogle, owner of TimberTech in Greer. Vollnogle for the past 10 years volunteered his time and services to pick up the tree and bring it to Columbia.

Decorating such a large tree is no simple feat, the garden clubs say. SCE&G will string 10,000 LED lights, and the garden clubs will hang 900 ornaments by Friday.

The tree will stay dark until the 49th Annual Governor’s Carolighting on Nov. 30. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with light refreshments. The Carolighting program will begin at 7 p.m. and be televised live on SCETV.

This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 9:45 PM.