Unseasonably Warm Temperatures Welcome Rockefeller Center Tree

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Summerlike temperatures are welcoming a sign of the winter season.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is going up Friday after making a nearly 200-mile journey to Manhattan from Gardiner in Ulster County.

PHOTOS: Tree Goes Up At Rockefeller Center

The 78-foot-tall, 10-ton tree Norway Spruce arrived to a tepid reception -- only as far as the weather goes, WCBS 880's Paul Murnane reported.

Temperatures could go as high as 76 degrees Friday, but head gardener Erik Pauze said he's not concerned about the warm, muggy weather.

He will fill the pan that sits at the base of the tree with 90-gallons of water.

"That great New York City water, drinks it up and then wants some more tomorrow," Pauze said. "That will probably be gone for sure and then tomorrow I will fill it up again."

Albert Asendorf and Nancy Puchalski were on hand to see the tree that had stood in their front yard for five decades arrive at its new home.

"It still looks the same as it was when it was at the house, I don't know how about when they set it up, whether it will look the same or not, but nice," Asendorf said.

"It's final, it's here," Puchalski said.

Asendorf and Puchalski  said they're still not used to seeing the empty space in their yard.

"Every time we go up to look out the window it's not there," Puchalski said.

They plan to plant another Norway Spruce in its place and hope it will be chosen to stand at Rockefeller Center in the future.

"This way our grankids' kids can maybe do it if they're still in the neighborhood," Asendorf said. "We won't be able to see it, maybe from up there looking down, but it'll be cool."

The 83rd Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony will take place on Dec. 2.