Michelle Obama and her daughters Malia and Sasha greet the official White House Christmas tree, which has arrived from West Virginia.
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
Michelle, Sasha and Malia Obama greet Eric and Gloria Sundback. The official White House tree came from the Sundbacks' West Virginia farm, the fourth time they've supplied the official Blue Room fir.
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
Michelle and Malia Obama chat with Eric and Gloria Sundback, whose farm is providing the 18 1/2-foot Douglas fir for the Blue Room as well as other trees to decorate the White House with.
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
The official White House tree arrived on the traditional horse-drawn carriage to the North Portico. Park rangers were to take the tree and put it up in the Blue Room, where the chandelier is removed.
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
Michelle, Sasha and Malia Obama, with tree farm owner Gloria Sundback. The tree started its journey to the White House on Wednesday.
Marvin Joseph-The Washington Post
Media crowd around Eric and Gloria Sundback and the Christmas tree destined for the White House. This is the fourth White House tree from the Sundbacks' West Virginia farm.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
It wasn't just Washington media in attendance Wednesday -- a crew from the Czech Republic showed up to see the tree and interview Eric Sundback.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
Dan Taylor wields a chainsaw while Bryan Holler, in green, directs, with assistance from Valentin Aguilor and Gloria Sundback.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
The White House gets multiple Christmas trees, and the smaller ones are tagged with information on their destination. This one is bound for the presidents' daughters, Sasha and Malia.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
Clockwise from front, Valentin Aguilor, Dan Taylor, Bryan Holler, Noiberto Aguilar and Javier Sanchez tie up the 18 1/2-foot Douglas fir. That's the required height the official tree, which must fit in the Blue Room. It also has to be narrow enough for guests to walk around at receptions.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
Workers carefully tie up the White House Christmas tree for delivery. This is the fourth time in 30 years that the White House has gotten a tree from a Sundback farm.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
Dan Taylor loads the Douglas fir onto a flatbed truck for the trek to the White House from Shepherdstown, W.Va.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
Eric Sundback and his wife, Gloria, who are semi-retired, had assumed their champion tree-growing days were past. He said having one of his trees picked for the White House was an honor.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
Dan Taylor, who with Bryan Holler took over the Sundbacks' retail lots a few years ago. guides a load of trees destined for public and private rooms at the White House.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
Eric Sundback, center, helps place a tarp over Douglas firs grown on his farm. The Sundbacks' method of hand-pruning produces a spare but elegant tree.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
Gloria and Eric Sundback provided two White House trees during the Reagan administration and one during the Carter administration. Most trees during the Clinton and Bush years came from North Carolina, Pennsylvania or Washington state.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
The official White House Christmas tree, as well as other trees bound for the building's public and private rooms, starts its journey from Shepherdstown, W.Va., to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Katherine Frey-The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Producer, Photo Editor Stephen Cook
