Why a charred Christmas tree means so much to a family who lost their farm

The family that owns a fire-flattened Christmas tree farm has found a bit of festive cheer beside their charred fields.

The Rowter farm in Seven Mile Lake, N.S., and its more than 2,000 trees burned in a forest fire in August near Kejimkujik National Park.

But amid the blackened tree skeletons, the family came across a bit of sparkle earlier this week. Someone cut down a charred tree and set it along the road, nailing its stump so it wouldn't fall over.

"There it was, in all its glory," farmer Beverly Rowter said Tuesday. "It's so bright and colourful that people are going to see it at night, as well, as they drive by."

'Felt so grateful'

The tree was topped with a green tinsel star, was decked with pinkish-purple and green garlands and had a big, red bow.

"We all felt a little bit choked up, but at the same time, felt so grateful," she said.

Losing the 10-hectare farm was hard, Rowter said, as the family planned to continue the business or lease out property to other farmers in the future.

"It was just very emotional to see everything blackened and charred and the earth burned down two feet," she said.

In August her husband, Dan Rowter, estimated the trees would have sold for $100,000 had they not burned. He was touched by the mysteriously decorated Christmas tree, Beverly Rowter said.

"He, too, was very emotional and had a bit of a tear in his eye, and said, 'I'd love to know who did this,'" she said.

Rowter said their friends are denying the good deed, but she still hopes to find and thank the mystery "elves."

The family also came across three trees this weekend that somehow survived the blaze and were "so green and beautifully shaped," she said. 

"Now we'll enjoy one more year with our Christmas trees," she said.