Traffic cone + weeds = Christmas spirit outside Charlotte
A hearty weed that grew out of a traffic cone and into a local and internet phenomenon in Huntersville, N.C., sparked a surge of Christmas spirit Monday and a back-and-forth between the state Department of Transportation and the local fire department.
For months, the so-called "Cone Weed" grew across the street from the Huntersville Fire Department. Property owner Madeline Phillips said her son mowed around "Cone Weed" during the summer. The weed had a hashtag and a Facebook page.
Last week, in a sign of the coming holiday season, the weed sprouted tinsel and ornaments, and a graphic designer told the Associated Press he was selling shirts with the "Cone Weed" image, with proceeds helping local families.
The #ConeWeed has now reached all the way to the @AP & the @washingtonpost. What started out as fun has turned into a movement! @HopeMatch Donations have reached over $5,000 in 3 days, benefitting families in need during the Holidays! #OneTownOneWeed https://t.co/nryD6mgz4r
— Bill Suthard (@BPSuthard) November 17, 2017
I leave NC for only a few days, only to come back and find a #ConeWeed in my district has gone viral... pic.twitter.com/dK9zNm9lZ6
— Rep. Chaz Beasley (@ChazBeasley) November 20, 2017
The goodwill took a turn Monday when a DOT crew yanked the cone up over the weed, scattering the decorations and leaving online what one firefighter described as "a stem."
Social media fought back, and the DOT issued a hasty apology.
"Crews removed #ConeWeed since it was so close to the road. They didn't mean to be a Grinch and disrupt a positive community effort," the NCDOT posted to Twitter.
We received a phone call from @NCDOT apologizing for the removal of #ConeWeed. At the time of its removal they were unaware of the community effort behind it to raise money for families in need at Christmas. They have agreed to return the decorations. #OneTownOneWeed https://t.co/yyoaxeJush
— Huntersville Fire (@Huntersville_FD) November 20, 2017
The "Cone Weed" responded with humor. "Hey friends, I know I got a pretty bad haircut this morning and I'm currently without my cone but I'm still here," it posted to Facebook, along with a promise.
"Weeds keep growing no matter how many times you cut them down."
