A huge Christmas tree fashioned out of tumbleweeds is taking shape in Chandler.
City crews have been stacking more than 1,000 tumbleweeds into a 30-foot wire frame and covering them with 25 gallons of white paint since last week. They're also covering the weeds with 20 gallons of flame retardant, 65 pounds of glitter and about 1,200 lights.
Mayor Boyd Dunn gets to flip the switch for the ceremonial tree-lighting on Dec. 4.
Chandler has been building a tumbleweed tree since 1957.
That's when resident Earl Barnum raised the idea after he saw a similar one in Indiana built out of cone-shaped chicken wire with pine boughs stuck in the holes.
The weeds are harder to find these days, said Russ Lassuy, a parks technician supervising this year's tree project. Growth has covered most of the community's land and non-agricultural property owners risk citations if they don't keep vacant lots weed-free.
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Crews working on the tree said this year's batch came from the vacant city-owned Centennial Park site near Queen Creek and Gilbert roads. Budget cuts have forced Chandler to put new park development on hold.