I recommend carpinus caroliniana - American Hornbeam. It's an Ohio native, and can be grown in sun or shade. In shade. it becomes rather open and sprawly - like you would find it growing along some stream under other larger trees. In the sun, the trunk tends to be straight and the head of the tree more dense and compact. I would limb it up as it grows to the point you can walk under it as it's a nice summer shade tree under which to place a glider or hammock. I see it offered as either single or multi-stemmed so you have a choice there as well.

Marshall

I'd like to see more Pseudolarix. I don't understand why they are not planted more often.

Two that immediately come to mind are:

Cotinus obovatus - American Smoke Tree if you have a suitable site

Yellowwood (forget the species name off the top of my head)

I'd love to see more broadleafed evergreen trees planted around here....Carolina Cherry laurel, Southern live oak, Ubame Oak, Chinese evergreen oak; more unusual (for here) hollies such as Ilex x koehneana 'Hohman' and 'Ajax', Ilex latifolia, Ilex 'Virginia'. Wintertime can be so dark and depressing -- we just need more green during the cold months.

Perhaps there should be a different thread for westerners.

Dan

Any tree that provides food should be on the top of the lists. Other than that, just depends on space on what trees should be planted.

Golden White Poplar is a good one for people that have an acreage or more room.
{{gwi:362881}}

Ilex decidua, though very common wild in my area, it still has significant ornamental value.

jennie, your sticky spots sound just like the spore packets from artillery fungus. Do you have wood mulch in your landscaping beds? This little fungus seems to aim for light colored surfaces and it's impossible to remove.

I highly doubt it is Artiller Fungus if you can remove it. I have sent species of my black spots to Dr. Davis at Penn St University and he said mine is definitely not Artillery Fungus, but could not tell me what they are.

The spots are all over my house and my light colored cars. I live just N of Columbus, OH. I am fairly certain mine are fly droppings, but I have never seen them any other place I have lived. Neightbor has them too. I have removed all my mulch and replaced it when I was certain it was Artillery Fungus based on everything I read on the Internet. Drives me Crazy!