On the corner of 65th and Palatine Avenue North in Seattle‘s Phinney Ridge district, there lies a quaint wooden house with a gnarled old plum tree outside; its branches spreading out and draping down low. This is no ordinary tree. Like other noble trees, it changes with the season, but this tree has expanded the idea and changes with the holidays also. It is known by locals as the Holiday Tree and today my friend Jo whisked me away to take a look at its most recent reincarnation.
I couldn’t resist stopping by later in the evening to see the little tree all decked out and lit up with the teeniest tiniest of rosebud lights.
That happy and well-loved tree warmed the cockles of my heart, no pun intended. Have you seen any unusual Valentine’s Day decorations in your part of the world?
xxx Ailsa
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About ailsapm
Hi there! I’m Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney. I’ve lived in many places, and travelled to many more. I had a lot of fun getting there and being there, wherever there happened to be at the time. I climbed a castle wall in Czesky Krumlov, abseiled down cliffs to go caving in the west of Ireland, slept on the beach in Paros, got chased by a swarm of bees in Vourvourou (ok that wasn’t fun, but it was exciting), learned flower arranging in Tokyo, found myself in the middle of a riot in Seoul, learned to snowboard in Salzburg, got lost in a labyrinth in Budapest and had my ice cream stolen by a gull in Cornwall.
And I’m just getting started.
If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read so far, I’d love you to follow my travelogue - wheresmybackpack.com - and remember, anyone who tries to tell you it’s a small world hasn’t tried to see it all.
Where's my backpack? 
This was really special. It’s amazing the trouble some people go to just to make life better for everyone. Congratulations to them, and to you Ailsa for putting their tree on your blog!
They’ve been doing it for years and years, Trish, kids adore the tree. Apparently, they pull out all the stops for St Patrick’s Day. 🙂
I’d like to see that.
I shall just have to go back in March, mamacormier. Keep an eye out for it! 🙂
Lovely tree. Amazing to know that the tree survives in all seasons. Nice decorations.
There’s something so cheery about it all. I can’t help wondering about the people who live there, how long they’ve been doing it, what made them start and what a sweet sense of community it brings to the neighbourhood.
Yep, it is great.
I don’t think anyone decorates their tree for valentines day here….
It was definitely a new one on me! 🙂
What a heart warming tree! Hoping you’ll put a St Patrick’s Day update in March…
How can I resist? 🙂
aaawwww that is just so cute… thanks for sharing it with us that cant see it in person… spreading the LOVE
‘Tis the season, Linda 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day. xxx
Never seen anything like it – thanks for giving us such a great peak!
Thanks for sharing in my discovery, Animalcouriers. 😉
Ohh, soooo sweeeet!!
Most often I don’t like when people overdo something like this, but this was absolutely heartwarming! And you captured it beautifully! ❤
Have a lovely weekend and a wonderful Valentine's Day!
I’m with you, Marie. I don’t normally go for this kind of stuff, but it was done with such love that I couldn’t help but adore it. I have this image in my mind of a sweet elderly couple taking great joy in sharing each new holiday that comes around.
It would be really lovely (pun intended) to hear the story behind the tree decorating. What fun they must have coming up with the different holiday themes.
I know, pommepal, I’m tempted to see if I can find out more too. 🙂
Knock on their door, show them your blog and tell them you have hundreds of fans dying to be introduced to them…!!! Good idea????
Great idea, pommepal, I was toying with the idea myself. Great minds think alike! I’m looking forward to seeing their St Patrick’s Day tree. 🙂
So am I, the way time flies by it will be March 17 in the blink of an eye 😉
A great set of photos! A tip of the hat and thank you to the owners who lavish so much attention to the tree, and to you Ailsa. 🙂
Thanks John, Happy Valentine’s Day to you! 🙂
What fun! I wish I could do something like that.
I know, it almost makes me want to rush out and buy a house with a plum tree out front 🙂
That is what the world needs now. Share and spread the love, why do it only for Christmas? Thanks Ailsa!
Glad you enjoyed it, bebs1, it made my day too! xxx
so sweet and lovely.. i hope you’ll post again a photo of that tree on another beautiful occasion..
I’m on a mission to do another post for St. Patrick’s Day, elizz, I hear they decorate for that day too! xxx
What lovingly romantic and sentimental folk the ‘bedeckers’ of this tree must be. Well done, I say – and well done to Jo for whisking you there thus enabling you to show us the love that abounds in that neighbourhood
Yes indeed, three cheers for Jo whisking me off to see this darling little tree! xxx
I really like the snap you have as your header!
In terms of decor–I will be on a cruise ship this year for St. Valentine’s day so I will let you know.
Now that should be interesting! I’m looking forward to hearing all about it. Happy Valentine’s Day, diggingher. xxx
Yes, some people decorate windows and lawns with lights and hearts for Valentine’s Day. St. Patrick’s is the bigger decorating extravaganza.
I’ve never seen it before, c & c, it was quite adorable! 🙂
What a lot of love coming out of this house to share with everyone!
Couldn’t agree more! 😀
Perfectly put, Angeline 🙂
I love the tree with the lights on, I am such a fan of fairy lights!
Me too, I think they should be used all year round! 🙂
So nice to find a reason to smile! 😀
Yes it is, valentina – and what a lovely name, it’s your time of year with Valentine’s Day!
LOL… Blessings! 😀
I wish someone on my block did this — it would be so cheery to see it. Thanks for sharing today!
Glad you enjoyed it, Jennie, yes, wouldn’t it be nice to have a little splash of joy on the block? 🙂
Gosh, no! But I love yours! 🙂 Want one like that NOW 😀
Happy Valentine’s to you 🙂 and greetings from Vienna 🙂
Hope you had a happy Valentine’s Day too, happyface313. Hello over there in Vienna! 🙂
Love the tree – even if I don’t like Valentine’s Day – amazing stuff and your photos are very good and rather pretty (sweet) But I wouldn’t like to be the neighbor to that tree.
I never celebrate Valentine’s Day either, viveka, but this was too cute to pass up! 🙂
I’ve really been missing Seattle lately…now I’m really, really missing it! What a great house! 🙂
How lovely and romantic especially in the dark!
This tree is fantastic! I haven’t seen much in the way of decorations at all. Certainly nothing as heartwarming as this 😉
Your pix are wonderful!
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This is beautiful! My mom always did a Valentine’s Tree in our house when I was growing up made of a branch with gumdrops stuffed on its ends and paper hearts. I really like this larger, outdoor, live version. Thanks for putting this up!
Hi Trillian, Happy Valentine’s Day to you! Glad you enjoyed the love tree. 🙂
I love this post Ailsa! Thank you so much for sharing these inspiring ideas, which get me going 🙂 After today’s Chinese New Year decorations come off my front door and the big red heart wreath goes up, I’ll also consider how to decorate our front yard tree – with the hopes of bringing happy smiles to neighbours as your lovely post has brought here! Cheers, Gina
Wow, breathtaking!!
What a lovely idea! I love the tree at night with all those fantastic lights. It would be lovely for more people to do this – perhaps you will start a trend. 🙂
Goodness me! Not OTT in the slightest 🙂
Valentines day, Valentines day, what am I going to get my wife for valentines day?
What a beautiful post! Love the hearts all around the tree… 😀
I so want a tree like this. X
Delightful!
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing.
What a fun sight 🙂
thanks for stopping by my blog and liking it!
This is very Seattle, I think. I’ve been a here a year now, and more and more I’m seeing the culture. I can’t put it into words yet, but this being in Seattle does not surprise me at all. Nice photos!
What an enchanting tree! Especially the nightversion looks as an illustration from a fairytalebook …
Oh my goodness, these pictures just made me so happy! If I lived in Seattle I’d be a little tempted to park a folding chair in front of it and just bask in its wonderfulness. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
What a nice idea to share holidays with everyone passing by this way – and great photos, Ailsa!! 😉
What a fabulous tree! Thanks for posting about it, and showing us all the details of the decorations. Putting up all those hearts and lights must have been quite a labour of love (pun intended!). 🙂
This is so special! I’m so glad you found it and so fortunate that you posted about it — this is the first time I’ve ever seen an outdoor tree decked-out for Valentine’s Day, and it is wonderful!
What wonderful images-this must have been great fun to photograph!
It really was, littledoglaughed, especially at night when it was all lit up 🙂
That is really pretty. Lots of Love!
I love that about the US. Everyone puts in real effort into making the neighborhoods look festive. I think it would be hard to not be impressed with this no matter how much you don’t like Valentine’s Day haha! I wish Australia had the same idea…
This is a beautiful sight and such a lovely idea!