Ink wrote: "In other words spend enough time on the site to get a feel for it" Unfortunately, many folks are not able to be patient with themselves, their gardens and their landscaping. The desire to have things "done" is strong and I feel it causes unfortunate decisions. One of my soap-box issues is how we, as a culture, cannot stand the "in-between" period; the transitional time, the period of dis-equilibration that is so crucial to healthy development of any sort...even with regard to the development of the garden and landscape. Trying to avoid it (god-forbid) or rush through disequilibration leads to all sorts of missteps. Patty

Nope, definitely not Euonymus europaeus. The berries weren't arranged or as numerous as on the photos I looked at of the euonymous. The leaves on this tree were thick and waxy, very glossy. I'm certain it was an evergreen. I'm sure it gets more beautiful in my memory as the time goes on :-) It probably was some type of holly. I don't think it was a Yaupon holly. The edges of the leaves seemed to be reflexed back. For all I know, it wouldn't grow in either PA or FL, so if I never ID it, I'll survive. But I do appreciate all the knowledge and guesses shared. Sorry I didn't take that photo! Marcia

here's to Ralph Havickhorst a man who loved orchids and to all those gardening mentors that have inspired in each of us us the love of flowers....the love of nature...the love of mankind...can we get Satchmo to chime in? ""I see trees of green From Orchids ........ red roses too I see em bloom..... for me and for you And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world. From Orchids "The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do They're really sayin......I love you".......... From Orchids "I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow their gonna learn more than Ill never know And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world... From Orchids "Yes I think to myself .......what a wonderful world." (Louis Armstrong)

I think your plant may be Opuntia monacantha. Christopher