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Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad December 9, 2004 Charity tree lacks style points By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Something's missing from the top of the holiday tree on Siskiyou Boulevard this year. But struggles with the charity tree are nothing new. Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings A broken conifer is the latest version in an ongoing saga of less-than-ideal Christmas trees on display in the center of town. Placing the tree downtown the past few years has been a challenge for the Ashland Community Hospital Foundation and the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department. Each year, both organizations have put up a Christmas tree across the way from the Ashland Fire Station on Siskiyou Boulevard for the hospital foundation's Lights for Life Tree, which is a fundraising program for the hospital and hospital-based programs. This year, the tree's top was broken as it was being raised. The result remains an effective charity fundraiser even if the blunt-topped tree is not a leading candidate for holiday photo ops. The yuletide saga began in 1994, when the city planted a Christmas tree, which struggled to grow properly. In 2002, the tree was removed because of the Siskiyou Boulevard expansion project. Last year, another tree was planted, but died this summer due to a lack of water. Because the planted Christmas tree they ordered did not arrive until mid-November, a cut tree is being used this year. This latest substitute may top the list of problems even as its lost its own top. The point of the tree was accidentally broken off while it was being moved. The odd looking, topless tree is held aloft by several unceremoniously large, yellow cables. Despite the tree's less-than traditional appearance, Patrick Flannery, director of development at the Ashland Community Hospital Foundation said it's serving an important purpose. The point of the tree, slightly or otherwise, is to spread holiday cheer and to raise money for a good cause. "It's different, but I think it's wonderful because it's helping us to meet our goal of helping others," he said. "The focus here is what we're doing to raise money for health care and the tree is an outward symbol of generosity." The hospital began the tradition with cut trees in 1987, but switched to a planted tree in 1994 after receiving a letter from an Ashland child requesting the change because they didn't like that they were killing a tree each year, Flannery said. A first-hand witness For 26 years, Don Todt has worked for the city as the parks department horticulturist and has seen the entire saga of the Christmas trees on Siskiyou Boulevard first-hand. He concurred that this year's tree is not the perfect specimen. "It is not quite as nicely formed like you would like to see from a Christmas tree, probably because it has a broken top," he said. The original planted Christmas tree, a Douglas Fir, struggled to grow for five years, and did not look right, Todt said. "It should have been big and full, but instead, it didn't have that full Christmas tree form and effect," he said. "It looked a little bit like that Charlie Brown Christmas tree. It just didn't look right." Todt said he believes the problem was in its roots, and the tree was not getting enough water and nutrients. He said there's a chance the roots might have been damaged while the tree was being transported. In 1999, the tree started to develop a little bit better, but was still not an ideal tree, Todt said. In 2002, the tree was removed because of the expansion of Siskiyou Boulevard and was moved to a private residence in Ashland, Todt said. It died less than a year later after an infestation by the flathead boer beetle. About a year ago, the city bought a blue spruce they nicknamed "Fat Albert." Todt said while it would take awhile for it to grow, it was more like what people expect a Christmas tree to look like. Unfortunately, in July, Fat Albert died. Todt said the irrigation system near the tree was not hooked up properly, and by the time it was discovered, it was too late. In mid-November, they received a Siberian spruce, but because of the late date, it was decided that they would go with the cut tree for this year. The new tree is being held in storage and will be planted after the holidays, Todt said. "It's a real nice specimen," he said. "It look like it's a perfect Christmas tree. It will take awhile for it to grow, but it will look really nice." Flannery said he is excited to have a planted Christmas tree for next year. "Our goal is to have a permanent Christmas tree that can grow and be healthy," he said. "For some reason, it just hasn't worked out." --> Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.