First photo: Larry Fortier, of Hartland, takes photos while a crew cuts down a balsam fir tree in his front yard on Wednesday. He and his wife, Pat Fortier, donated the tree to be displayed in front of the state capitol building in Montpelier for Christmas. Their son Kevin planted the tree about 30 years ago when he started studying landscape design in college. A lighting ceremony is scheduled for Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Second photo: Christian Perkins, of White River Junction, at left, takes photos of the balsam fir tree as it is lifted onto a flatbed truck trailer. Perkins works for Chippers Inc., a tree service that has been helping care for the tree.
Third photo: State of Vermont employee Stephanie Minor, of East Montpelier, climbs out of a balsam fir tree she was helping to strap onto the flatbed.
(Valley News - Rick Russell)