With a Banjo On Their Knees

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Christmas Tree Pageant

August may seem a bit premature to be thinking about Christmas trees, but 'tis the season for professional growers. Trees are-also on the mind of horticulturist Erwin Williams, who's responsible for making sure that the Christmas trees at the White House are picture perfect this December.

Ever wonder who actually selects the trees? Gary Sander of Corvallis, Oregon, who won the honor in 1991, can tell you. "Every other year, in August, there's a kind of Christmas tree beauty pageant, and growers in each state submit trees to compete for the biennial National Christmas Tree Contest," says Sander. Two winning growers are recognized and awarded plaques by the National Christmas Tree Growers' Association in Wisconsin. They also win the honor of choosing trees from their state to adorn rooms in the White House during that and the following year's Christmas seasons."

It may not seem all that important, but 100,000 tourists patiently wait in line each year to oooh and aahh over the festive scene. That's why the White House sends Williams, who is the White House grounds landscaper, and chief usher Gary Walters to the winning state to approve the chosen ones. According to Williams, trees must meet certain standards—having a shapely trunk, for in stance: "Any tree under 18' is too short. And a tree must be narrow enough to fit through a 54"-wide door. It must also be tall enough for its top to fit into a chandelier socket in the Blue Room."

In 1991 two suitable trees got the trip of their lives: They were shipped from Oregon to Washington, D.C., in a National Guard plane and then brought to the north portico of the White House in a wooden wagon drawn by two Belgian draft horses. Gary Sander made a brief presentation and Barbara Bush officially received the trees. An 18 1 / 2 Douglas noble fir graced the Blue Room that year, while a 12' Douglas fir was placed in the Bush family's private quarters.

Oregon trees also graced rooms in the White House in 1992. This Christmas, a North Carolina grower will have the honor of seeing his state trees in the mansion.

To enter the competition, contestants must be members of the National Christmas Tree Growers' Association, which publishes a quarterly journal about raising and marketing Christmas trees. For membership information, write to: Christmas Tree Growers' Association, 611 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202.

— Marian Behan Hammer

The Danger of Toxic Carpets

In March of 1985, Linda Sands installed 130 yards of carpeting in her Montpelier, Vermont, home. Within hours, she and her five children began to experience headaches, dizziness, burning throats, and double vision. After weeks of chasing down the carpet installers, the Vermont Department of Health, a private physician, and a laboratory, Sands had her carpet removed and left her home for six weeks while her house was thoroughly cleaned. Unfortunately, the damage was done. To this day, her family remains gripped by chronic illness that Lisa believes is a direct result of the carpet installed eight years ago.

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