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Roland99

(53,342 posts)
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 07:56 PM Dec 2018

Red Christmas tree florist surprised at horrible reactions

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2018/11/30/melanias-red-christmas-trees-reaction-shocks-decorations-volunteer/2160687002/
Amelia Florist Vickie Wenstrup is struggling to find an answer to this question. She was caught off-guard by the social media reaction to the red berry Christmas trees that she and a team of other volunteers labored over for three days.

...

She thought that the design was perhaps inspired by the sculpted and shaped holly topiary trees in the garden that are visible outside the hallway's windows. The garden is one of two designed by former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Wenstrup said.

The cranberry tree that adorns the White House Red Room could have also served as an inspiration, she suggested. Whatever the idea's source, it was not Wenstrup's. The first lady's team worked on that.

The red trees were part of her "American Treasures" theme, intended to honor America’s heritage.
32 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Red Christmas tree florist surprised at horrible reactions (Original Post) Roland99 Dec 2018 OP
Oh, pshaw!!! nt libdem4life Dec 2018 #1
MAGA red! And Christmas trees ain't frickin RED! Kajun Gal Dec 2018 #2
Russian Red.....nt global1 Dec 2018 #5
Last yr's decorations, as morbid as they were, were better.....but still crappy. Kajun Gal Dec 2018 #18
And it might have worked matt819 Dec 2018 #3
It's not my style but it wasn't bad either nini Dec 2018 #4
Good point Roland99 Dec 2018 #9
That did cross my mind nini Dec 2018 #29
So u get an order to celebrate and it turns to shit dembotoz Dec 2018 #6
According to the article, she was a volunteer. Chellee Dec 2018 #19
That's how Trump suckered people to donate items for his weddings. They wanted publicity, got none. TheBlackAdder Dec 2018 #32
Holly has evergreen leaves with red berries Sanity Claws Dec 2018 #7
Exactly.. Pesky details that they Cha Dec 2018 #16
where in America's heritage do you find a treasure of red shag carpet trees? vlyons Dec 2018 #8
I thought it was very ugly and over the top. ananda Dec 2018 #10
It's hard to express " American Treasurers" when you're Russian owned. irisblue Dec 2018 #11
I saw it as blood as in the murder committed by the Saudi's katmondoo Dec 2018 #12
It wouldn't have been so bad if there wasn't a damn forest of them Revanchist Dec 2018 #13
What next? Blood sacrifice? struggle4progress Dec 2018 #14
These trees I'm sure would be lovely in a different setting with some different accompaniments UniteFightBack Dec 2018 #15
The Christmas Trees of Death? No, I don't think they would jmowreader Dec 2018 #24
I agree, not that big of deal. Only because of Trump and Russia does it matter. nt USALiberal Dec 2018 #26
I feel sorry for the volunteer florists. As before, the "first lady's team" is truly terrible... Hekate Dec 2018 #17
Melania seems to like American Horror Story Christmas themes Kaleva Dec 2018 #20
She's just another Trumpster who feigns Phoenix61 Dec 2018 #21
There were actually several rooms decorated that looked very cool. Baitball Blogger Dec 2018 #22
"Just following orders" likely story. JNelson6563 Dec 2018 #23
You got to be kidding Gothmog Dec 2018 #25
The obviously artificial (fake) red trees Progressive dog Dec 2018 #27
Bwah ha HAH!1 The first lady's team is *ALWAYS* a suspect!1 UTUSN Dec 2018 #28
If they had candy striped red, white and blue on the trees, that would have looked great. Blue_true Dec 2018 #30
Honor America's heritage. . . What? One tree represents the blood of 100,000 Native Americans? TheBlackAdder Dec 2018 #31

matt819

(10,749 posts)
3. And it might have worked
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 07:59 PM
Dec 2018

If there were no trumps involved or if it were in a corporate environment. Did they look at the trees from the last 10 presidents?

nini

(16,670 posts)
4. It's not my style but it wasn't bad either
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 08:02 PM
Dec 2018

It just comes from evil so it's tough to get on on board with anything that nazi trump handling plant does.

Chellee

(2,086 posts)
19. According to the article, she was a volunteer.
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 08:55 PM
Dec 2018

"In January, Bruce Wenstrup requested letters of recommendations from clients and assembled a portfolio. He filled several binders with favorable letters and other materials promoting his wife as an ideal volunteer. He sent copies to the first lady, her chief of staff, and the head floral designer.

In October, Bruce Wenstrup learned that his wife had been selected. He surprised her with the news on Oct. 27 over a family dinner. Vickie Wenstrup cried."

I can understand a florist having a dream to decorate the White House for Christmas, but I wouldn't have done this for the Trumps. It makes me feel less sorry for her.

TheBlackAdder

(28,071 posts)
32. That's how Trump suckered people to donate items for his weddings. They wanted publicity, got none.
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 11:37 PM
Dec 2018

.

This one's getting publicity, however, not the kind she desired.

.

Sanity Claws

(21,822 posts)
7. Holly has evergreen leaves with red berries
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 08:07 PM
Dec 2018

It is not blood red with no green.

How can this person claim that the blood red forest is somehow related to hollies?

vlyons

(10,252 posts)
8. where in America's heritage do you find a treasure of red shag carpet trees?
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 08:08 PM
Dec 2018

chalk it up to very bad taste

ananda

(28,782 posts)
10. I thought it was very ugly and over the top.
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 08:09 PM
Dec 2018

And I would think that no matter who designed it
or where!

irisblue

(32,828 posts)
11. It's hard to express " American Treasurers" when you're Russian owned.
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 08:23 PM
Dec 2018

The other area pictures are fine, but the East Colonnade of the East Wing trees are a poor choice, IMO.

Revanchist

(1,375 posts)
13. It wouldn't have been so bad if there wasn't a damn forest of them
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 08:36 PM
Dec 2018

One or two would of been okay but they had what, a dozen in that hallway? Talk about overkill.

struggle4progress

(118,034 posts)
14. What next? Blood sacrifice?
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 08:40 PM
Dec 2018

Barbara Ellen

... When I first saw Melania’s cheery Christmas decor, I half expected to see Captain Kirk brandishing a ray gun between the branches. Or, maybe the tree-beings are shooting jets of nerve gas at White House visitors – should we send over David Davis to test this theory?

... Melania has such bold views about what comprises feelgood festive decorations. Last year, she did Revenge of the Narnian Snow Queen; this year, it’s Yuletide Malarial ...

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/02/melania-trump-next-year-christmas-tree-theme-blood-sacrifice

 

UniteFightBack

(8,231 posts)
15. These trees I'm sure would be lovely in a different setting with some different accompaniments
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 08:43 PM
Dec 2018

with a different arrangement from a different fist lady. It's not the florists fault.

jmowreader

(50,447 posts)
24. The Christmas Trees of Death? No, I don't think they would
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 10:12 PM
Dec 2018

The regular tree-looking trees were okay. The bright red traffic cone ones, not so.

Hekate

(90,189 posts)
17. I feel sorry for the volunteer florists. As before, the "first lady's team" is truly terrible...
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 08:45 PM
Dec 2018

And there are so many of those thngs it is just overwhelming.

Phoenix61

(16,951 posts)
21. She's just another Trumpster who feigns
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 09:23 PM
Dec 2018

surprise that nobody likes her team. She chose to be a part of it. She can deal with the consequences.

Baitball Blogger

(46,573 posts)
22. There were actually several rooms decorated that looked very cool.
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 09:25 PM
Dec 2018

The team also consisted of florists from Central Florida. But the red room, I'm afraid, is all Wenstrup.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
30. If they had candy striped red, white and blue on the trees, that would have looked great.
Sun Dec 2, 2018, 11:14 PM
Dec 2018

As they were, they were just incredibly ugly. I like the term "murder trees" that was applied to them.

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