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-----Original Message-----
From: Lucky Pittman <lucky.pittman@murraystate.edu>
> Folks,
> Saw this webpage linked from a GardenWeb discussion thread on Bradford 
> pears and all the drawbacks attendant to its use as a landscape
> specimen.
> Thought it might be of interest to some - and, things are slow here, as
> well as on the list.
> 
> The Coming Plague of Pears:
> 
> http://www.co.mo.md.us/services/dep/Landscape/pears.htm

I can attest to the fact that they plague us.  About the time they get 
the size and shape everyone seems to like, they fragment during inclement 
weather.  Luckily, when wy agency moved to the new main office building, 
we got to clearcut all the bradford pears and several other 
trees/shrubs.  They've been replanted with natives.  We need a few more 
years for the trees, but the herbaceous plants are much better and 
require a great deal less maintenance and water.  

Now If I could just convence folks to clearcut the edge of the parking 
lot with all those red maples....