Wow. You gotta feel bad for someone who would pour that much effort into composing such a thoughtfully vitriolic letter to someone for something so trivial. The prose is a beautiful example of the slippery slope rhetoric, wherein because you are volunteering to give away your tree, ergo, what you really want is to live in the Wallyworld parking lot. Impressive logic on display here.

Anyway, sorry you had to put up with that, and more sorry for that poor soul who lives such an angry life. Stink bug indeed, in human form!

I once had someone on Garden Web, who only posted in that thread and thankfully never again, violently attacked me because my personal experience varied from something Michael Dirr had written. I don't even remember what the exact topic was, but the poster must have been a nasty character indeed.

Well, apparently the person was having a bad day and assumed you meant the tree must go in the August heat (not a likely recipe for successful transplanting).
All types...just throw that email away, or if you like the email that much, award the tree to him...on the condition of immediate removal (lol).

I suggest replying in the same passive-agressive mode

Dear tree hugger

I must express my relief that trees give you so much pleasure since it is obvious to me that you must be profoundly deprived of any normal human relationships. Thankfully, plants provide an outlet for creative nurturing and patience so a few more years of exposure to their civilising influence and who knows, you may even find a cure for the debilitating rage which has scarred your existence. I can only send out my heartfelt wishes, on behalf of myself and my beer-drinking friends (I have many) that you find yourself in a happier place in future years.

Thank you for the responses ! I can honestly say if I haven't been gardening around 10 years and was new to it , I'd have been so mortified and would have thought all gardeners were like that ! But he's a first In ten years for me .
Camp , I wish I had your letter before I sent mine ! Hilarious . You have the perfect tone in that response .
On a another note , I received a quote from a local landscaper to dig up my beds for me ! I can sit back and watch someone else do the hard work with his tractor , and I get to do the fun planting ! I have two weeks to finalize my design . Still no idea what I am doing . But I will post pictures for sure ! :)

I think you should write back:

"So... is that a yes? Do you want it? When can you pick up?

LOL. Sheesh, some people just need a life. That's a bit over the top, eh?

I guess part of it may come from the mentality that seems to be prevalent on freecycle, craigslist, etc., that of what I call "instant pick-up". Many people who post things want them gone absolutely immediately. Which makes me laugh. It's been sitting in your closet for 20 years and now you want me to pick it up in three hours or it goes to the dump? Really?

That then extends to the takers. I don't know how many times I've posted something (with no pick-up deadline) and the person who reponds includes "I can be there this afternoon". To which I always reply, there's no rush, you can have it, come at your convenience. But I think because of this insistence on the part of the givers for immediate pick-up, the takers are afraid that if they don't materialize instantly on your doorstep, the offer is off the table.

So maybe Mr. GrumpyPants thought you wanted it gone today.

As for the rest of the email, well, he's just friggin nuts. No other explanation.

:)
Dee

"I think you should write back:
"So... is that a yes? Do you want it? When can you pick up?"

A perfect response.

"I once had someone on Garden Web, who only posted in that thread and thankfully never again, violently attacked me because my personal experience varied from something Michael Dirr had written."

Are you sure it wasn't Michael Dirr himself? I hear he can get kind of touchy. ;)

I was thinking about it , and his email had his name attatched to it . Unfortunately for me it's common enough that it is impossible to pin point exactly who he his , even with google stalking all of us . I would love to dig it up myself and deliver it to his door step. I could only imagine his shock !
With a note saying , please take care of her , I'm moving to Walmart and can't care for her anymore! Lol

I know the sender of the nasty note wasn't from PA!!! We don't sell beer in our Walmart, only in Beer Distributors or you can buy 6 packs ONLY in bars. We have a "State Store" system here that the legislature and governor has been trying to get rid of for years.

Geesh, what a wet blanket. He needs to spend some time on anger management, I think.

You can transplant almost any time of the summer if you take the proper precautions and water and shade your transplants.

Linda