Last month, the San Clemente City Council approved the purchase of a new Christmas tree from nursery stock, to replace the tree damaged and removed in August. However, Beaches, Parks and Recreation Director Sharon Heider told the council Thursday that when staff arrived to look at the tree, it was not the same quality of the previous one, or that the department had expected it would be. Instead, Heider told the council, department personnel had identified a tree that was already growing in San Clemente, and had it moved, via truck, to the corner of Avenida Del Mar and Calle Seville, where it would serve as the city’s Christmas tree.
Heider said the tree would be in good shape to last at least through the holiday season, though it would need to grow out more. The tree had largely been crowded out at its previous location, she said, so it should be expected to thrive in the newly open space, assuming the transplantation succeeded. The tree will be ready for the annual tree lighting ceremony, Heider said.
