By Diane Wright
Herald Writer
Decorating trees in November can be a real treasure hunt.
But it’s part of the fun if you’re part of Festival of Trees.
Planning starts six months early, and decorating takes place in one day for the six-day event, which opens to the public today.
More than 200 volunteers organized the benefit for Providence Children’s Center, which auctions 24 theme trees and wreaths. They also will stage a range of events this week at the Marine View Conference center, including a free community open house on Wednesday with Santa arriving in a fire truck and Friday’s Senior Day, a social open to all ages.
If you ever needed ideas for tree-decorating, they’re here: Victorian trees, classic car trees, shoe trees, teddy bear trees, golf trees. Last year’s Kirtley-Cole tree, decorated in miniature Harley-Davidsons, fetched $4,000 at auction.
Stadium Flowers offered "Hugs and Kisses," a tree covered in teddy bears and red wax lips. All kids admitted to Providence Everett Medical Center in December get to pick a teddy bear from the "Emergency Tree."
"It helps alleviate their fear and anxiety," said Lori Kloes, spokesperson for the Providence General Foundation, the sponsor of Festival of Trees.
Chris Nelson and her team from Kimberly-Clark wired The American Heroes Tree with toy fire trucks and other items saluting firefighters, policemen, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.
There’s a "Peanuts" tree complete with Snoopy dog house; a golden "Reflections" tree; an ultimate shoe tree, inspired by the costume collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Jennifer Newland said.
"There are so many fabulous trees here this year," she said. "It’s nice to have something you can use your creative expression in. You look around the room, and you see trees for almost every taste."
And every tree has a story.
The Vascular Tree has a life-saving one. Cassie Meyer-Bernethy of Joyworks, a Snohomish gift shop, said her father, Wallie Meyer, owes his life to Robert DeFrang, the medical director of the Vascular Institute at Providence. Joyworks donated the decorations, and 80-year-old Wallie Meyer himself made some of the stars for the tree.
Dr. Jim and JoAnn Burkett are co-chairpersons for this years’ Festival, which has grown since its origins at Floral Hall 16 years ago.
There’s special interest this year, since funds go toward opening next year’s Women and Children’s Pavilion. Set to open in the spring, it will be one of the largest women and children’s health centers in the region.
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