A new pine tree has been planted at Holland’s Strawberry Acres Park just in time for the annual village Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The tree, a Norway spruce, replaces a fraser fir donated by Walker Funeral Home two years ago.
In June, Holland Village Council learned from the maintenance department that the original tree was dying. Mayor Lee Irons contacted Amy Stone of the OSU extension, who confirmed its untimely demise, noting it was nothing the village had done wrong in caring for it. She speculated that the tree was “just too large to transplant and under too much stress.”
Councilman Justin Hoen of Hoen’s Orchard donated the replacement tree, which had been growing at the garden center for a number of years. He believes the spruce will do well in transplantation.
Prior to these trees, the village used the pine tree at the intersection of Angola and McCord roads and Clarion Avenue, but because of the tree’s proximity to power lines and potential harm to workers decorating it, a new tree was chosen to decorate.
The village Christmas tree lighting will take place at 4 p.m., Saturday, December 2, at the Lodge at Strawberry Acres. There will be activities, cookies, refreshments and a visit from Santa Claus. Springfield High School band members will perform holiday music at 5:45 p.m., and the new tree will be lit at 6 p.m.
