The Columbia Garden Club, Breakfast Optimist Club of Columbia, Christian Thee, and BellSouth are challenging South Carolinians to find the perfect tree to be placed on the State House grounds for the upcoming holiday season and be lit at the annual SC Carolighting on Sunday, November 28.

“This is the first year we’ve asked South Carolinians to search their yards, fields, and neighborhoods for the perfect tree,” said Jane Suggs, member of the Columbia Garden Club.

The perfect state tree should be at least 35 feet tall with dense, strong branches and a triangular shape. Citizens wanting to nominate a tree for selection can do so by sending a color photograph of the tree with a person next to it for scale and perspective, along with the tree’s variety and contact information (name, address and phone number) to the Columbia Garden Club, 12 Dill Court, Columbia, S. C. 29204 or via e-mail at info@columbiagardenclub.com. The deadline for entries is October 22.

Once selected the tree will be adorned with new decorations by SC artist Christian Thee and unveiled and lit at the Carolighting ceremony, at 6 pm Sunday, November 28 on the north steps of the State House. The ceremony will air live on SC ETV.