When It Comes To Christmas Trees,

here is one that is completely different,

and has become a local attraction, the Veal Ice Tree, it all started in the winter of 1961, when Vierl G. Veal, the original Ice Tree creator, was spraying a fine mist of water on the hill south of his house on Mimosa Lane, in Indianapolis, to make an ice slide on to his pond. During the night, a strong wind blew the spray onto some honeysuckle bushes and turned them into frozen sculptures. He and his wife Mabel liked the result so much that they decided to replicate the effect on a grander scale. And that’s how the first Veal Ice Tree was created, 

Vierl passed away in the 1970s, but by that point the ice tree had become a popular local attraction, and his family decided to carry on the tradition. They have put up the “tree” every year when the weather allowed it, and they plan to continue doing so for a long time, the water for the Veal Ice Tree is pumped from the family’s pond. Depending on weather condition and the time that Vierl Veal descendants have to work on the tree, it can grow to around 40 feet. In 2014, it towered at an estimated 79-80 feet, but on average, it is between 35 and 40 feet high,

to make the Ice Tree even more of an attention-grabber, the Veals mix powdered food colouring dye with water and spray the dye onto the Ice Tree with a garden sprayer, there is no charge to go look at the tree, in fact the Veal family invites people to come by and admire their creation. It’s become somewhat of an Indianapolis attraction, and the Veals continue to create the ice tree every year both because it’s fun, and as a way to honour its original creator, what a wonderful tradition.