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Several years ago, the city of Menlo Park planted a small fir tree on the corner of Avy and Orange avenues. It was bare and a bit scrawny, as most young trees are, but then something out of the ordinary happened. Someone began embellishing it with decorations that changed with the seasons. But who was doing it, and why?
A little online sleuthing revealed the person behind the mystery, a longtime Menlo Park resident who lives close by but would only agree to speak to The Almanac if her name not be published. Her preferred moniker is the nickname her family has given her: The Tree Fairy.
The crafty resident recalled how her secret efforts began, shortly after the tree was planted. “Someone hung a single ornament on it,” she said, “and it reminded me of the scrawny tree that used to show up in the Peanuts comic series.”
After the holidays, she decided that the tree needed a makeover, so she created some decorations for Valentine’s Day. That was the beginning of the decorated West Menlo tree, and the displays have only become bigger, better and more elaborate over the years.
“My first thought was popular holidays and/or special occasions,” she said. “St. Patrick’s Day was coming up a few weeks after Valentine’s Day. Then it was Easter, followed by Memorial Day. It just seemed like there was some sort of holiday every month. I decided a monthly change to the decorations would be a good schedule.”
If there are longer gaps between holidays, she does “fillers” like graduation or back-to-school. While she covers the cost of all the purchased decorations, there are many that she makes herself or with the help of her boyfriend. The recent back-to-school tree included ornaments with the logos of local schools and the tree-topper was a huge pencil.
As many residents who live nearby will tell you, the tree’s decorations seem to magically change overnight — people say no one has ever seen it in the process of being adorned. That’s all part of the plan.
“I decorate under cover of darkness. I wait until most people are sleeping and there are very few cars on the road. Most of the time, it’s after 1 a.m. on a weeknight. If a car comes, I duck behind the tree or walk over to the curb where my car is parked and wait until it passes,” she explained.
She wears a dark jacket and a black baseball cap to obscure her efforts, but that doesn’t mean no one has ever noticed her. She said she has been caught several times, including by the local police. One officer drove around the block, then returned to see what was going on.
“I explained we lived nearby and were just changing the decorations on the tree. He asked us if we were crazy, wished us well, and drove away,” she said.
On another occasion, a police officer stopped, confirmed that she was the tree decorator and agreed to keep her secret. He told her that his daughter “loved the tree and would be excited to see the new decorations in the morning.”
What does her own family think of her nocturnal tree decorating? “They think it’s great,” she said. “If they are in town, they sometimes help put up or take down lights.”
Her two daughters often make suggestions for new decorations and her boyfriend enjoys the challenge of engineering the decorations to make sure they can be seen from the street.
She said there has been very little theft. “I try to use decorations that are not expensive, so I won’t be disappointed if something disappears.”
“The Tree Fairy,” who recently retired from a position in the financial services industry, said that she does not have an art or design background. That might surprise her fans, given the charming and imaginative designs she has produced. As the tree has grown and filled out, the decorations and lighting effects she uses have increased.
“Decorating in the dark in the middle of the night has its challenges,” she said. “This is especially true as the decorations and lighting have become more elaborate.” She said that she often decorates tree over several nights.
This month’s Halloween theme features witch hats, giant spiders and small ghosts, all of which are handmade. She added store-bought skeletons, skulls and ravens to enhance the spooky mix. Shiny orange garland snakes around and through the green branches and solar-powered twinkling lights, installed at the base of the tree. The whole thing is topped off with a large, diaphanous ghost that lights up.
Although she has taken great pains to remain anonymous, she has gotten some feedback about her efforts.
“I enjoy hearing and reading comments from neighbors about the decorations and how seeing the tree brightens their day. Several people have left notes on the tree expressing their gratitude for my commitment and creativity.”
Does she worry about the little tree, which has grown and filled out considerably, getting too tall for her to decorate? She admits to doing a little pruning and also uses a step-stool to reach the top. “I have no plans to stop decorating any time soon,” she said.
When asked if she might want some recognition for all of her efforts, she replied, “I think the secrecy and anonymity add to the fun.”
But she did want to explain why she continues to offer this unique aesthetic experience to everyone who passes by what has now become a neighborhood fixture.
“I’m glad others in the community like the tree. Some people have commented that it’s nice to see someone take the time to work on something everyone can enjoy. This is especially true with all the controversy that exists in our society today,” she said. “If the tree makes people feel good, I’m happy to continue. It’s important to me to contribute in a positive way.”
The tree and the decorations are definitely very nice and the sharing of the tree fairy talent is appreciated.
However, I still think the location of the tree is often blocking the view of the drivers as it is at an intersection of a four-way stop signs.
Thanks, Tree Fairy. I have often driven by it since day 1 and always look forward its changing decorations.
Yes, it is a very, very positive experience to view the tree driving into downtown and then on our way back home, several times each week. We thank you for the effort and admire your talent.
We love the tree and the watching the decorations change. Thanks, Tree Fairy!
Thank you, Tree Fairy. The tree always makes me feel happy!
And while I’m at it, thanks to the person at Sharon Green who puts out the little metal goats off Monte Rosa.
So grateful to your whimsical creations that always brings a smile as I pass by!!
Great story…. Hopefully it won’t blow the TF’s cover!