<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><font size="4">Similar experience! Mine were two thornless honey locust sticks -- the only variety left after all of the cool popular sticks were "sold out." One stick had so many sharp thorns that I tossed it away after it ripped my blouse and drew blood -- though only after calling the ArborDay/Pepco helpline for special dispensation to toss it. They offered to send me another with less or no thorns, though I declined.<br></font><br><br><blockquote style="font-size: 10pt; padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 255); border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: black;">-----Original Message-----<br>>From: bob smith <sfmc68@verizon.net><br>>Sent: Apr 3, 2016 10:09 AM<br>>To: towntalk@riverdale-park.org<br>>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Pepco Tree Program<br>><br>>Wow Al Spain, you suddenly made me recall Al Camus' discussion of<br>>Sisyphus but with a set of sticks rather than a rock! Seriously great<br>>description! Thank you for helping me manage my expectations, and<br>>perhaps contain my disappointment.<br>><br>>If the same happens here, I will consider planting the box too.<br>>Thanks again, this is great but sad information.<br>>bob smith<br>><br>><br>>On 4/3/16 9:16 AM, Al Spain wrote:<br>>> I did this program last year. Hopefully, I will not burst anyone's<br>>> fantasy. The basic facts.<br>>> <br>>> I envisioned a tree similar to what the town plants on the curbs,<br>>> already established with some basic foliage, small, but you know, a<br>>> tree. I diligently planned for my trees by utilizing Pepco's website<br>>> tree locator. I had utilities check for gas lines. I researched tree<br>>> planting, talked to Behnke's for an hour, purchased a few different<br>>> bags, mixed to the right percentages, and amended my soil. I tracked my<br>>> shipment with anticipation of two trees waiting on my porch steps. <br>>> <br>>> A long, narrow box arrived. It was approximately 4" x 4" x 5'. Inside<br>>> were two sticks with tap roots. One was broken. I called the problem<br>>> hotline to report the other broken stick. The contact person seemed<br>>> confused but said someone would be in touch. No one was ever in touch.<br>>> <br>>> I faithfully planted my other stick in the amended soil. Charlie<br>>> Brown's Christmas tree was an Amazonian jungle plant in comparison.<br>>> <br>>> I watered all summer. <br>>> <br>>> I was gently mocked. <br>>> <br>>> My stick died and was composted. <br>>> <br>>> Pepco got some good PR. <br>>> <br>>> Happy Arbor Day!<br>>> <br>>> <br>>> <br>>> Hi All,<br>>> <br>>> To anyone who has done this program in the past, are the trees<br>>> shipped or dropped off to you or do you have the option of picking<br>>> them up?<br>>> <br>>> Thanks so much!<br>>> Andrew<br>>> <br>>> <br>>> <br>>> _______________________________________________<br>>> TownTalk mailing list<br>>> To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<br>>> TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing only<br>>> http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk<br>>> <br>>> For more information about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info<br>>> <br>><br>>_______________________________________________<br>>TownTalk mailing list<br>>To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<br>>TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing only<br>>http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk<br>><br>>For more information about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info<br></sfmc68@verizon.net></blockquote><span style="width: 0px; height: 0px;"><object type="cosymantecnisbfw" cotype="cs" id="SILOBFWOBJECTID" style="width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block;"></object></span></div></body></html>