Murphy Picea Rubens, affectionately referred to as “Ruby,” led a charmed life on her 6,000-foot mountain peak in the Pisgah National Forest. She stood tall among her peers of red spruce, as it was her height – 78 feet – that caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Forest caretakers.
Every year since 1970, the Forest Service donates “The People’s Tree” to stand on the West Front Lawn of the Capitol. Ruby had some tough competition, as she waited with seven other red spruce trees, hoping for the honor.
Among the panel of professionals making that decision was Murphy’s own Lorie Stroup, a fisheries biologist with the National Forest Service.
“There are three of us from Murphy on the team this year, including Capt. Jody Brandy and Ericka Hincke,” Stroup said at the Capitol Christmas Tree event in downtown Murphy on Sunday. “It’s been a year-long endeavor,” she added with a laugh, “and took a team of 17 people.”
Stroup said her team organized more than 100 events throughout North Carolina “as an outreach to educate people about the National Forest Service, with its trails and campgrounds. We want to get into the communities and teach children about trees.” They also collected 12,000 ornaments from North Carolinians that will be placed on the tree once it arrives in Washington.
“The ornaments represent our state,” Stroud said. “We collected dogwood ornaments, Oconee Bells, cardinals, birdhouses – just all kinds of North Carolina flavors.”
Ruby began her 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour at the Agricultural Center in Fletcher, where she was gently loaded onto an 80-foot truck trunk first so her majestic 20-foot top can be seen through the Plexiglas portion at the back of the truck. Ruby’s stop in Cherokee County commenced her whirlwind two-week tour from Murphy to Manteo before she takes her place of honor on the West Lawn of the Capitol.
Ed and Deborah Kingdon of Hardy Brother’s Trucking were chosen as Ruby’s guardian drivers.
“We don’t know why we were chosen,” Ed said. “But we answered the call.”
The couple, married for 42 years, is thrilled to be a part of the tour.
“People have been waving and honking all along the way,” Deborah said. “We feel like Santa’s elves.”
Their efforts are part of a larger movement called Trucking Moves America Forward, aiming to establish a positive image for the industry and to ensure policy-makers understand the important role trucking plays in the economy.
“Our goal is not just this tour, but to connect with our communities across the state and connect them to their lands.” This is Adrianne Rubiaco, the National Forest Service’s public affairs specialist.
It has been 26 years since North Carolina was selected to present The People’s Tree. With more than 850 growers tending to 50 million trees, in an industry worth $67 million, Ruby was chosen as a queen among queens.
Ruby will stand sentry on the West Lawn, where fourth-grader Catcuce Micco Tiger, “Coche,” will serve as the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Youth Lighter for the tree Tuesday, Nov. 29. Coche is a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Tiger is named after his father, Catcuce. His name, when translated from Seminole, means “Little Tiger.” While she stands adorned, scientists and forestry fairies will work to harvest her seedlings.
“We want people to know that the public lands are open for everyone to enjoy,” Rubiaco said.
She said the Forest Service is working on a red spruce restoration effort. To that end, the Southern Highlands Reserve research center will raise 50,000 new red spruce trees that will be planted on public lands. Ruby’s prodigies are among those seeds as a team of silviculturists and foresters collected her cones, containing the seeds that will be transported to the research center.
Ruby’s contribution to the world doesn’t stop there.
“Once Ruby has completed her honor, she will be milled into wood for the Pisgah Banjo Co. and the Mountain Song Guitar company to create musical instruments that will be donated to charities assisting children throughout the state,” Rubiaco said.
But for now, Ruby remains under the vigilant care of the Kingdons.
“This tree is my responsibility,” Deborah said from the cab of the tour truck. “She is my baby, and I am her caregiver.”
To follow Ruby’s tour, visit uscapitolchristmastree.com.