Back on April 23, I posted about the Free Trees I'd received from the Arbor Day Foundation.  Some 7 or 8 years prior, I had received a similar shipment.  Quoting from the cover letter:  "These trees are guaranteed to grow."  The first time, two of ten survived.  This time, now four weeks in the ground, three have leafed out; the other seven appear dead. 
One of the two crabapples is doing well.  Neither dogwood has shown any sign of life.  Neither redbud has shown any sign of life.  One of the two Washington hawthorns is okay.  One of the two goldenrain trees is okay.  In addition, they sent me two fragrant lilacs and they are both leafed out. 
The letter promises that, if they don't grow, they will reship more trees if I pay S & H.  I doubt I'll take advantage of that, since the majority have died each time and I put in a lot of work to plant, mulch, and water them.  Of course, I can't really complain; they were free.  If I want trees that are already well along, I'd have to be prepared to spend about $25 per tree. Even then, there are no assurances.
So I will nurture what I have and look forward to watching them grow up before my eyes.