A korean Maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum) would be great for that location.

Here is a web site with a photo of it:

http://www.ghhf.org/images/maples/b/Acer%20pseudosieboldianum.jpg

I recently found out about a nursery that is somewhat close to me in Wisconsin here that also ships trees. If you don't mind a small tree, they are very inexpensive. $4 for a Korean Maple.
http://www.wegrowit.com/Reeseville/ReesevilleRidgeCatalog.htm
*Note I know nothing about them about them what I have seen on that web site, but with their prices, I am going to give them a try this fall for a few things.

Where are you in Chicago?

Jamie

Where are you putting this tree? The bed in front of the window? If so I don't get that choice.

The only two options I see:

1) Pulled to the front yard (outside the walkway), toggle it slightly to the right of the large shrub next to the window

2) Worked it into the bed where the confiers are, pretty much inline/front of the yew. Chose something with a finer texture and higher canopy.

Just throwing this out - if you'd like a narrow Japanese maple with great red fall color that matures to around 5 ft wide x 15-20 ft. high - you might check out Tsukasa Silouhette - here's a link to info:
http://www.worldplants.com/tsilhouette.htm

I just received mine from World Plants - a nice healthy-looking tree!

Jamiedolan,
I saw a 20 foot Korean Maple in exactly the same location (north of their porch) at the nearby nursery "Hidden Gardens" near Hinsdale, Illinois. I like its small maple leaves. I will take another look, you get a pizza if I go Korean Maple. I need to determine a height, size for this tree, got any ideas?
Jason "Feed the Tree"

Acer pseudosieboldianum will typically get 15 x 12 for my area...possiby 18 x 15 by you.

If you end up going with an Asian maple check out Davidsan's Japanese Maples I believe its close to you.

The location choice is odd, but for the space I'd recommend something with season long color to differentiate from the green.

Check out:
Variegated Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (upright)
Golden Shadows Pagoda Dogwood (horizontal, but not overwhelming)

Whaas,

Thanks for your awesome ideas. The only reason I suggested the bed in front of the window was I just removed a 50 yr old, part dead serviceberry tree from this location (corner of the window / porch). We are creatures of habit, I knew I needed a new pair of eyes to loook at this. I didn't think of a tree outside the sidewalk. Here is a picture further back that shows the large sugar maple on the street. There is also a 60 ft tall silver maple north of the sugar maple. Cost is not an issue on this tree, I could hire a 90 inch spade and move a 25 foot tree. The 27 foot colorado blue spruce on the far right side was moved 2 years ago from a tear down across the street, I got it just before it was cut down. Can you suggest a size if I locate a tree next to the sidewalk or in the bed in front of the walk? What do you mean by "high canopy" (I am new to trees). Does "finer texture" mean smaller leaves? Examples would help if you have time.

ImageShack.us

{{gwi:42063}}

The weeping white pine is a nice tree and whatever you put behind it will make the pine basicaslly disappear from the street view. Put a Nyssa sylvatica out in the front yard in line with the right side of the window and the next owners will thank you.

tj

Must have cross posted. That's a different perspective. I would be inclined to just let the weeping pine fill in. Staked (if need be) to about 3-4 feet above the gutter.

tj

Now that we have a much better perspective, I agree with the last post. Let the pine fill in.

If you plan on removing the pine then find a another small speciman like those forementioned.

High canopy - can easily limb up, like a Ginkgo
Fine Texture - small leaf, like a honeylocust

I mentioned something with a fine texture because its so close to the house as it will give the house more depth vs. putting something with coarse texture (like a buckeye). You also don't want big ol leaves dropping there in the other plants.

Are you saying that the large blue spruce off to the right is no longer there?

BTW, Tsugajunkie is a much more experienced gardner than I and I have seen some pretty impressive pics of his/her landscape...my point, its good advice.

Whaas and Tsugajunkie,

Thanks for your input. The blue spruce is still there, I moved it from a lot that was demolished across the street 30 months ago. I had only 2 days notice to save it and cajolled the only working 90 inch spade owner in Illinois into moving it, in January!

I got the weeping white pine 2 months ago. To me it looks somewhat exotic and doesn't match my 1958 "Happy Days" midwest american house. Anybody want to trade a nice Korean Maple or something else for it? I could possibly deliver and dig your tree, mine is still in the burlap ball(damn lazy gardeners!).

If you ditch the pine (I hate weeping anything, lol)and go with an asian maple try a purple/red leafed variety...I think you need a color pop. Look into 'Fire Glow' or post in the maples forum.

"The tree you recommend will probably outlive me and either resonate positively thru the Ages or will be cursed daily by future generations of homeowners. "

I love that line!

The others have hit on the main points of picking something. I think you have some good ideas to ponder. Just wanted to say I loved that line.

Thanks Toronado3800.

Tsugajunkie, I will look for black tupelo trees at the local arboretum and nurseries to see what they look like. The web reviews say these are awesome trees with fall color.

Whaas, red leaved oriental maples depress me. So do gingkos! We have both on our street (gingko nearby is 40+ ft. Tastes differ!

Does anybody have a link to software that will add different types, shapes and sizes of trees to my front yard picture?

Where do you plan on putting a black tupelo? Thats a decent size tree.

I don't know of a software tool...your better off getting info here, then visiting botanic gardens and arboretums and then following up here again. No one tree is the same so the software will be unless anyhow.

They will all respond differently to light and soil types...then there will be varying degrees of shape, size and vigor to the plant itself.

Chicago Bontanic Gardens and Morton Arboretum served as an inspiration for many of my plantings.

I wouldn't hate on the Ginkgo...they vary greatly and certain landscape specimans can be as stately, if not more, than Beeches and Oaks.

It took me 2 years to find the perfectly shaped Ginkgo I was after.

Check out the Ginkgo in the grass field at the Chi Botanic Garden...I wish I could transplant it to my yard!

It just occurred to me...they have weeping redbuds that are more widely available now. What do you think about how that would look? It should stay reasonably sized.

Now thats a depressing tree with big ol leaves, lol.

Whaas,
you believe in speaking your mind ;) Its funny, 2 people suggested a redbud to me in the last 24 hours. Redbuds in my area (western chicago burbs) have uniformly unhealthy, weak, thin, gnarly trunks. Beautiful purple flowers, but less and less each year and they seem to always be dying. The redbuds at the Morton Arboretum look similarly unhealthy. I actually bought a a small redbud at the annual Arboretum plant sale to donate to my town's landscape, it sent out an ugly 6 foot shoot (a last act of defiance?) and promptly died the next spring.
The gingkos on my street have thin, long branches.

I found a red japanese maple I really like, its Twombly's Red Sentinel. The tree has fall colors (yellow / orange) now in mid July. The nursery said it came out that way in the spring, never became deeper red / purple. Has anybody seen this? Perhaps its from disease or stress? If not, its an awesome fall look all summer.

Just to be clear, I suggested black tupelo before I saw the big picture (crossed posts). It would be too big for that area. The reason I like the weeping pine is if it needs to be staked for height, then you can control it to 1) break up that wide expanse of roof 2) have it relate to the chimney by angling to the spruce by the flag and 3) give you another shape and texture.

tj