Community Corner
Lafayette Reservoir Tree Sprouting Ornaments Again
For more than two decades, people have been decorating the plum tree during the holiday season
It must be the holiday season.
The ornaments are appearing again on the Lafayette Reservoir plum tree.
On Monday, about 30 ornaments adorned the tree in the reservoir's southeast corner.
So far, there's a large red bell, a trumpet, a Hawaiian sandal, an eagle and a bird seed ornament. There's also one with a photo of a dog named Sasha.
A pirate elf ornament extends wishes from Nicholas St. North and the Randolph family.
A Lafayette Reservoir ranger told Patch last year that the ornaments appear between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
On Christmas Eve 2012, there were 140 ornaments on the small tree.
The ranger said the tradition has been going on for at least 20 years. She believes the annual rite started with a family hanging an ornament to remember a loved one who was fond of the reservoir.
The ornaments are usually taken off by park employees shortly after Christmas. The ones still in decent shape are donated to senior living facilities.
You can get to the tree by parking at the east end of the reservoir lot and then walking clockwise on the paved reservoir trail for about two-thirds of a mile.
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