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Christmas season opens at White House with arrival of tree

The 18.5-foot Douglas fir for the Blue Room at the White House comes from a Pennsylvania farm that has supplied two earlier trees.

By Frances Burns

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- First lady Michelle Obama, her two daughters and the family dogs were on hand Friday morning as the official Christmas tree arrived at the White House.

The 18.5-foot Douglas fir was carried to the entrance by a horse-drawn wagon. Mallia Obama described the tree as "great."

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"Thumbs up," Michelle Obama said. "It's a go. We're taking the tree."

Malia Obama held the senior White House dog, Bo, on a leash, while Sasha had the younger dog, Sunny. She had to give the leash a tug after Sunny refused to return to the family's living quarters, instead trying to spend more time inspecting the tree.

The tree will be placed in the Blue Room, the oval state parlor generally used for receiving lines and receptions, including the many held during the Christmas season.

The tree was grown at Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Lehighton, Pa. The owner, Chris Botek, supplied a White House tree in 2010, and his parents another one in 2006.

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