First Lady Maureen McDonnell receives 12-foot Fraser fir from Mt. Rogers Christmas Tree Farm (photo by Michaele White, governor's photographer)

Secretary of Agriculture Todd Haymore, Hailey Richardson, First Lady Maureen McDonnell, Rodney Richardson, Riley Richardson, Commissioner Matt Lohr of Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (photo by Michaele White, governor's photographer)

The governor’s mansion will have a few Southwest Virginia touches during this holiday season. The tree and the wreaths that will adorn the historic house come from Grayson County.

This morning, Rodney Richardson from the Mt. Rogers Tree Farm in Whitetop, and his children delivered a 12-foot Fraser fir Christmas tree to First Lady Maureen McDonnell. The first lady also was presented with wreaths from Sherrie and Carlos Taylor of Severt’s Tree Farm in Elk Creek.

The Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association picked the tree and wreaths as Grand Champions in their respective categories.  Members of Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs also donated greenery for the mansion.

More than a million Christmas trees are harvested and sold annually from hundreds of Virginia farms, according to the governor’s office. Virginia is ranked in the top ten states in number of trees harvested, total tree acreage and number of operations.

– Michael Sluss