Brian Bandle with a Christmas tree he bought online for $250 at his home in Brunswick, N.Y. on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. He thought he was ordering one that could be repeated for years to come Beautiful artificial tree used, but it turns out to be a real person.He tried selling it on social media, and while he didn’t sell it, the tree became a “thing”, with one person giving him a shelf to protect the tree and another sending him ornaments from New Orleans.(Will Waldron/Times Alliance)
Brian Bandle with a Christmas tree he bought online for $250 at his home in Brunswick, N.Y. on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. He thought he was ordering one that could be repeated for years to come Beautiful artificial tree used, but it turns out to be a real person.He tried selling it on social media, and while he didn’t sell it, the tree became a “thing”, with one person giving him a shelf to protect the tree and another sending him ornaments from New Orleans.(Will Waldron/Times Alliance)
A real Christmas tree bought online for $250 by Brian Bandle at his home in Brunswick, NY on Friday, December 3, 2021.He tried selling it on social media, and while he didn’t sell it, the tree became a “thing”, with one person giving him a shelf to protect the tree and another sending him ornaments from New Orleans.(Will Waldron/Times Alliance)
Brian Bandle looks at the Christmas tree he bought online for $250 at his home in Brunswick, N.Y., Friday, Dec. 3, 2021.become a real person.He tried selling it on social media, and while he didn’t sell it, the tree became a “thing”, with one person giving him a shelf to protect the tree and another sending him ornaments from New Orleans.(Will Waldron/Times Alliance)
Brian Bandle with a Christmas tree he bought online for $250 at his home in Brunswick, N.Y. on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. He thought he was ordering one that could be repeated for years to come Beautiful artificial tree used, but it turns out to be a real person.He tried selling it on social media, and while he didn’t sell it, the tree became a “thing”, with one person giving him a shelf to protect the tree and another sending him ornaments from New Orleans.(Will Waldron/Times Alliance)
Brian Bandle bought a Christmas tree online for $250 at his home in Brunswick, NY on Friday, December 3, 2021, thinking he was ordering a beautiful artificial tree that could be reused for years to come , but it turned out to be true.He tried selling it on social media, and while he didn’t sell it, the tree became a “thing”, with one person giving him a shelf to protect the tree and another sending him ornaments from New Orleans.(Will Waldron/Times Alliance)
Branch DuBois, a 9-foot-tall Fraser fir, gained popularity and attention online after her owner posted about her arrival.
Branch DuBois, a 9-foot-tall Fraser fir, gained popularity and attention online after her owner posted about her arrival.
Branch DuBois, a 9-foot-tall Fraser fir, gained popularity and attention online after her owner posted about her arrival.
Branch DuBois, a 9-foot-tall Fraser fir, gained popularity and attention online after her owner posted about her arrival.
Branch DuBois, a 9-foot-tall Fraser fir, gained popularity and attention online after her owner posted about her arrival.
Branch DuBois, a 9-foot-tall Fraser fir, gained popularity and attention online after her owner posted about her arrival.
Branch DuBois, a 9-foot-tall Fraser fir, gained popularity and attention online after her owner posted about her arrival.
Branch DuBois, a 9-foot-tall Fraser fir, gained popularity and attention online after her owner posted about her arrival.
Meet Branch DuBois.She was a tall, dark-skinned, handsome girl, posing proudly before the stained-glass windows of an old church in Brunswick.Brian and Tamara Bandle recently purchased the space they now call home.
Initially, Bandles was reluctant to accept DuBois in her way.They were expecting something not so fresh.She was messier than they wanted.Plus she drinks – a lot.We’re talking about three to four liters (yes, liters) a day.And it’s not cheap to dress her.She loves these gadgets – the more shiny (the more shiny) the better.
She also gave off a little smell.Most people find her scent pleasant, but her scent does tickle some people’s nostrils.
DuBois is a 9-foot Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas tree.She is the real deal.Like she was living on a forest farm in the middle of the United States shortly before she showed up on Bandle’s doorstep.
Brian did place an order, yes, but he didn’t get what he expected.He looked for a tall artificial tree, but he was captivated by Du Bois’s beauty – her price (over $200) meant she was much cheaper than other fake trees he’d seen.But he neglected to fully read the description on the Williams-Sonoma website.
When DuBois arrived, Brian’s wife, Tamara, was the first to notice a fresh stem at the base of the tree instead of a plastic base.
“I was like, ‘Oh crap,’” Brian recalls, and Tamara rolled her eyes and walked away.”She wasn’t actually mad at me, but she was very disappointed with my lack of attention to detail.”
The Bandels, who had never owned an actual tree, were intimidated by the care this pine specimen required.So they did what any savvy, disappointed customer does now with unwanted merchandise: “sell” the tree on social media.
Facebook has zero interest — not even a single auto-generated “it’s still available” comment gets through, but usually nothing.
The often ridiculed, community-focused social media site highlights “what do you think about that strange car that drove down the street last night” or “I saw one in my yard – breathless.” Breathe – Turkey”, the pine tree that makes life full of vitality.
Brian’s first post was simple and to the point: “I bought an 8-foot Christmas tree online that I thought was a fake…delivered today and it turned out to be a very real tree,” he wrote road.”I’m dumb and my wife is not very happy with my purchase. It’s a Fraser fir that actually looks like a very nice tree, but I’m not obligated to take care of a real tree. Asking price 175 $. It’s a big tree, and I paid $225.”
While no one has expressed interest in buying the tree (you can buy four fresh firs here for this price to take home), many have shown interest in the pine.Brian’s honesty about what happened and his wife’s reaction also drew people in.
So, when the tree didn’t sell, he posted an update saying she was still available – like the lady in waiting.
“The tree was up and waiting in a bucket of warm water at Home Depot until I got a tree stand. It wasn’t ideal, but the whole situation wasn’t ideal,” he wrote.
Comments and reactions piled up.Soon, he was asked to continue the story of the trees.This turned into followers who encouraged Bandles to embrace unwanted visitors.A neighbor gave him a stand that freed Du Bois from what Brian called “the yoke of the Home Depot bucket.”One follower sent Mardi Gras beads directly from New Orleans.Several people asked to come and take a photo with the tree.
Then someone suggested a naming contest.She could be Holly (Golightly) or Noel or Betty.Heck, even Everett (playing Evergreen), Doug and Sam from Balsam are scattered like Du Bois’ needles on the Bandles floor.
Branch DuBois – inspired by Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desiree” – wins.And just like that, the tree became her.
“We’ve assigned a name and gender to the tree,” Brian said.So far, he has posted as many as eight DuBois-related posts on Nextdoor.
But that tree earned more than just a name.DuBois also won the hearts of Brian and Tamara.Although they say the fame has gone to their head.She spread out, taking up “more space than she deserved,” according to her owner.
She is now a frequent visitor to the Bandells.A recent update announced an open house for people to meet with Du Bois on Saturday and Sunday.And, Tamara said, Du Bois may have even changed the couple’s mind about a real Christmas tree.
“Now I have to admit that the tree is beautiful and I think we have to have a real tree every year,” Tamara said.”But next year we’ll definitely be getting something locally instead of ordering online.”
Kristi Gustafson Barlette is a feature writer who writes about trends in your life and hers.You can reach her at kbarlette@timesunion.com.
Post time: Feb-15-2022