For years, the Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association has provided a tree to be placed in the governor’s official residence, Cedar Crest mansion.

Not this year.

Gov. Sam Brownback got wind of a fire code that prohibits placing freshly cut trees in state buildings, and decided to have the tree placed outside the Capitol.

The issue was discovered when someone wanted to put a fresh tree in a building at Kansas State University, and fire officials refused to let that happen, Brownback said. Brownback said then someone questioned the tradition of putting the tree in Cedar Crest.

The 10-foot Scotch pine came from the Memory Lane Christmas Tree Farm owned by Harry and Juanita Peckham of Rantoul. It was delivered to the south side of the Capitol on a horse-drawn wagon owned by Robin Dunn of Dunn’s Landing in Wellsville.

Brownback said he has put up an artificial Christmas tree at Cedar Crest.