ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — Picking the annual Daley Plaza Christmas tree requires an understanding of science.
But Rick Corby seems to have it down to an art.
"It's a nice tree, but you can see just how lopsided this is," said Corby, moments after walking up to a tree in an Arlington Heights front yard. "It's not going to work."
A regional manager of the landscaping company The Brickman Group, Corby has helped select trees for some of Chicago's most marquee locations, including Daley Plaza and the John Hancock Center, for more than 20 years.
Tanveer Ali went along on one of the tree-scouting missions:
This year, he and two of his colleagues have inspected 20 finalists for the Daley Plaza tree. The list was whittled down from 82 submitted to the city from people who are proud of their tall spruces and firs, or who simply want the trees off their properties.
"If they choose this tree, of course I'll go to Daley Plaza to see them light it up," said Joyce Lackowski of the now 55-foot-tall blue spruce she planted in her Wheeling front yard about 50 years ago.
Neither Corby nor a spokeswoman for Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Specials Events would say which tree would be selected as the city's main tree, but they did note that it was a long process that starts well before the holiday season.
Corby and his colleagues planned to visit the 20 finalist trees, all within 100 miles of the Loop, in October. Every tree's height is measured using the evergreen experts' eyeballs and a measuring wheel.
They also look at the shape of the tree — the tree needs to be wide at the bottom — the fullness of the branches, and the ease of taking the tree away in one piece.
If one of the inspectors likes a tree, pictures are taken and shared with the other two colleagues who will make repeat visits to the tree.
The Lackowskis' tree did make a shortlist, according to Corby. The tree did have some fullness issues, but those could be dealt with.
There was one big problem.
"These power lines will be tough to deal with," Corby told Lackowski.
On Wednesday, the city will announce the winner. On Thursday, the tree will be cut down and taken away with the help of cranes, after which it will be taken to Brickman's Long Grove office in the north suburbs for additional work.
On Nov. 25, it will be lit up — Christmas lights, ornaments and all — with its best limbs facing toward Washington Boulevard in Daley Plaza.
Five years of Daley Plaza Christmas trees:
• 2009: For the first time since 1955, the city selected a single tree to be displayed in Daley Plaza. The tree came from Palos Heights.
• 2010: The city held its first tree contest and selected a 70-foot spruce from McHenry as the winner.
• 2011: A 55-foot Colorado spruce from Western Springs won the contest.
• 2012: There was no contest this year, as the city selected a tree from Prospect Heights.
• 2013: "Lucy," a 57-foot Colorado blue spruce from South Holland, won the city's contest and was displayed in Daley Plaza.
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