Interesting situation, to pick a spot for a new tree. Clearly there is room, but the question of where is not as easily answered as one might think - as shown by the fact, perhaps, that no one has answered! It took me a couple of days to figure out why this is hard. One reason is not knowing just what you want your relationship to be with passers-by on the road and with your neighbours across the road - how much of the house you want to leave visible, how much you want to be able to see out - for example, do you want to be able to see when the mail is being delivered, or when someone is coming up your driveway? Another is not knowing how you like the task of mowing to go. So we don't really have enough information to fully understand your preferences... you don't need to explain them to us, but you do need to articulate them to yourself to make a decision. What is important to you about the front yard, and about trees in the front yard? Another is that there are already more trees than I realized from your earlier photo and they are quite distinctly linear in arrangement - furthermore, many are already maples. So it is hard to know whether to create a new linear component in the design or start to transition from a linear to a more random arrangement. I would prefer to evolve away from the linear aspect, especially as you move away from the driveway. Planting in groves does have its risks, as BBoy has pointed out above. I went on a tour of a local arboretum a while back (Riverview) where trees were frequently planted in 3s and 5s, and the resulting groves, 100 years later, now consist of rather unevenly developed trees in that the canopies are abutting and sometimes killing each other off on the adjoining side. So the trees are uneven although the groves remain symmetrical. But that's 100 years out, and all your specimens may not be 100-year trees. If they are not, then you can actually plant with a view to tree succession already. For example, I do not like the two maples (green in your first picture, red in your later ones) that are quite symmetrically planted across the middle of the lot - I don't like their shapes, so that's personal, but I also don't like their symmetry, since they somehow don't relate to each other or the property at all. I think I would begin by disturbing their balance a little by planting new trees near them, or in front of them, and then plan to remove one of the two existing trees at a later date. Always with a view to sight lines (and mowing lines if those matter). Also, I can't remember if you said anything on the other thread about big trees in the back yard, if you want or have any growing in there. For looks alone, nothing settles a house into a property better than being backed by some tall trees. But if it is not practical to plant them back there, then I would plant them in the front, albeit a fair distance from the house. As they grow you can prune their canopies up and even if they block your view now, eventually sight-lines will re-emerge beneath them (and in winter of course). All that refers mostly to deciduous trees. Conifers are also beautiful to have in the yard, but they will block sight lines all the time, so place with caution. Karin L

I pray it's not voles that I have. I think i was mice because I found a little nest and the roots were exposed enough (I dug it up kinda sloppily) so that after eatting the rosette of foliage the mouse could suck up the roots like little tasty strands of spagetti. The garage can warm up on a decent winter day.... the furnace and water heater are in a side room that vents to the garage so that adds to the warmth. It probably stays in the 40's. Ok the fig tree I keep in there is starting to sprout now too. I wonder if I can put it somewhere colder.... I already put all the potted bulbs outside, I gave up on winter. Terrene: open up one of their tunnels, put peanut butter on a trap and cover it with a board or something... if you can catch a few dozen it might make a difference. (from someone who was shocked one spring to find a mature cherry tree dying because it's roots were completely girdled and stripped)

Hey that is ok with me seriously, I got a kick out of it. I guess my irebis never survived, oh well. Funny thing is that I had a purple bloom come up and I still never have figured out what that was. It was cute but it didn't last. I just assumed that little plant was irebis cause it was white and it came back the next year. LOL, so much for assuming. That is what I get for not looking it up and just tossing seeds in that bed. LOL, one year no lie I had like a ton of seed I had no idea how I was going to grow them. So I just started throwing it in this one bed, I was like if it comes up it comes up if it doesn't oh well. I got some amazing flowers out of that and then I got some stuff I wished I never did that with, ugg. One thing I got from that was a beautiful red poppy. I have no idea what kind, I just know it was beautiful. I didn't save the seeds so I have been searching for those seeds. Well I finally found one wildflower pack that looks to have that poppy. I can't wait to grow that pack. To sum it up I am pretty sure that may be where that assylum came from. LOL It gets bigger each year!!

Here's a whole bunch of plants that will give you that tropical-esque look in Zone 15 (where I live)["st" = inidcates slightly tender]... Trees -- Bauhinia variegata ORCHID TREE (st) x Chiranthofremontia MONKEY HAND FREMONTIA Ensete ventricosum Maurelii ABYSSINIAN BANANA (st) Palms (see separate list) PALMS Podocarpus nagi NAGI Schefflera puekleri TUPIDANTHUS (st) Strelitzia nicholai GIANT BIRD-OF-PARADISE Tabebuia chrysotricha GOLDEN TRUMPET TREE Tabebuia impetiginosa LAVENDER TRUMPET TREE Tristaniopsis laurina ÂElegant RED WATER GUM Palms -- Brahea armata MEXICAN BLUE PALM Brahea edulis GUADALUPE PALM Butia capitata PINDO PALM Chamaerops humilis MEDITERRANEAN FAN PALM Jubaea chilensis CHILEAN WINE PALM Livistona australis AUSTRALIAN FOUNTAIN PALM Livistona chinensis CHINESE FOUNTAIN PALM Phoenix loureiri ASIAN DATE PALM Rhapis excelsa LADY PALM Trachycarpus fortunei WINDMILL PALM Large Shrubs/Small Trees -- Camellia reticulata RETICULATE CAMELLIA Cocculus laurifolius LAUREL-LEAF SNAILSEED Cordyline australis HARDY DRACAENA Fatsia japonica JAPANESE ARALIA Mahonia bealei LEATHERLEAF MAHONIA Mahonia lomariifolia CHINESE MAHONIA Melianthus major HONEYBUSH Medium Shrubs -- Abutilon FLOWERING MAPLE, CHINESE LANTERN Anigozanthos KANGAROO PAWS Aucuba japonica JAPANESE AUCUBA Cestrum nocturnum NIGHT-BLOOMING JESSAMINE (st) Cordyline stricta AUSTRALIAN TI PLANT (st) Cycas revoluta CYCAD, SAGO "PALM" Doryanthes palmeri SPEAR LILY Fuchsia fulgens MEXICAN FUCHSIA Fuchsia triphylla (and hybrids) BUSH FUCHSIA Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (hardiest: ÂAgnes GaltÂ, ÂBrilliantÂ, ÂCrown of BohemiaÂ, ÂRoss EsteyÂ, ÂWhite WingsÂ) HIBISCUS (st) Hydrangea quercifolia OAKLEAF HYDRANGEA Phormium tenax hybrids NEW ZEALAND FLAX Strelitzia reginae BIRD-OF-PARADISE Small Shrubs/Big Perennials -- Acanthus mollis BEARÂS BREECH x Amarcrinum memoria-corsii HYBRID CRINUM Anigozanthos KAGAROO PAW Aristea ecklonii BLUE STARS Aspidistra elatior CAST-IRON PLANT Musella lasiocarpa GOLDEN LOTUS BANANA Phormium tenax hybrids (esp. ÂApricot QueenÂ, ÂDazzlerÂ, ÂDuetÂ, ÂMaori MaidenÂ, ÂMaori QueenÂ, ÂMaori SunriseÂ, ÂRainbow WarriorÂ, ÂShirazÂ, ÂSurfer NEW ZEALAND FLAX Zantedeschia aethiopica ÂGreen Goddess GIANT CALLA-LILY Ornamental Grasses (And Grasslike Plants) -- Austrostipa ramosissima AUSTRALIAN PLUME GRASS Baumea rubiginosa ÂVariegata STRIPED RUSH Carex atrata BLACK ALPINE SEDGE Carex dissita BUSH SEDGE Carex dolichostachya ÂKaga-nishiki GOLD FOUNTAIN SEDGE Carex elegantissima ÂVariegata GOLDEN-EDGED SEDGE Carex morrowii cultivars JAPANESE SEDGE Carex phyllocephala 'Sparkler' SPARKLER SEDGE Carex tumicola BERKELEY SEDGE Chondropetalum tectorum CAPE RUSH Elegia capensis BROOM REED Elegia equisetacea HORSETAIL RESTIO Hakonechloa macra ÂAureola JAPANESE FOREST GRASS Rhodocoma capensis ELEGANT RESTIO Rhodocoma gigantea DEKRIET, BAMBOO RESTIO Sasa palmata (can be a rampant spreader) PALM GRASS Setaria palmifolia PALM GRASS (st) Xanthorrhoea johnsonii AUSTRALIAN GRASS TREE Small Clumping Bamboos -- Bambusa multiplex rivierorum CHINESE GODDESS Fargesia murielae UMBRELLA BAMBOO Fargesia nitida FOUNTAIN BAMBOO Otatea acuminata aztecorum MEXICAN WEEPING BAMBOO Bulbs/Annuals -- Amaryllis belladonna NAKED LADIES Cyclamen persicum CYCLAMEN Iris ensata JAPANESE IRIS Ricinus communis CASTOR BEAN (st) Solenostemon scutellarioides COLEUS (st) Small-Medium Perennials -- Astelia nervosa chathamica SILVER SPEAR Astelia nivicola ÂRed Gem RED GEM ASTELIA Begonia x richmondensis RICHMOND BEGONIA Bergenia cordifolia BERGENIA Clivia miniata FLAME LILY Clivia nobilis RED LILY (st) Dianella intermedia NEW ZEALAND BLUE-BERRY Dianella tasmanica (esp. ÂVariegataÂ) FLAX LILY Grasses (see separate list) GRASSES Helleborus lividus CORSICAN HELLEBORE Helleborus x stearnii HYBRID HELLEBORE Heuchera CORAL BELLS Iris Louisiana LOUISIANA IRIS Liriope LILY TURF Ophiopogon jaburan GIANT LILY TURF Tradescantia pallida ÂPurpurea PURPLE HEART (st) Soleirolia soleirolii BABYÂS TEARS Zantedeschia aethiopica CALLA-LILY Container Specimens -- Brugmansia ANGELÂS TRUMPET (st) Ipomoea batatas ORNAMENTAL SWEET POTATO (st) Lotus berthelotii, maculatus, and hybrids PARROTÂS BEAK (st) Rhododendrons (Vireyas) MALAYSIAN RHODODENDRON (st) Vines-- Akebia quinata FIVELEAF AKEBIA Bougainvillea (ÂHawaiiÂ, ÂLavender QueenÂ, ÂSan Diego RedÂ, B. spectabilis are the most winter hardy) BOUGAINVILLEA (st) Clematis x cartmanii ÂAvalanche AVALANCHE CLEMATIS Distictis buccinatoria BLOOD-RED TRUMPET VINE (st) x Fatshedera lizei ARALIA IVY Hedera canariensis variegata VARIEGATED ALGERIAN IVY Hydrangea anomala petiolaris CLIMBING HYDRANGEA Lonicera hildebrandtiana BURMESE HONEYSUCKLE (st) Macfadyena unguis-cati CATÂS-CLAW Pandorea jasminoides BOWER VINE Passiflora alata ÂRuby Glow RUBY GLOW PASSION FLOWER Passiflora caerulea ÂConstance Elliott CONSTANCE ELLIOTT P.V. Passiflora hybrids (the hardiest: ÂBlack KnightÂ, ÂBountiful BeautyÂ, ÂElizabethÂ, ÂFredericÂ, ÂIncenseÂ, ÂLavender LadyÂ, ÂNancy GarrisonÂ, ÂPossum PurpleÂ, ÂRed RoverÂ, ÂRed SunsetÂ, ÂSusan Brigham HYBRID PASSION VINES Passiflora incarnata MAYPOP Passiflora jamesonii CORAL PASSION VINE Passiflora mollissima BANANA PASSION VINE Solanum jasminoiodes WHITE POTATO VINE Vigna caracalla SNAIL VINE (st) Ferns -- Adiantum capillus-veneris SOUTHERN MAIDENHAIR Adiantum aleuticum WESTERN MAIDENHAIR Adiantum pedatum FIVE-FINGER MAIDENHAIR Asplenium bulbiferum MOTHER FERN Asplenium scolopendrium HARTÂS TONGUE FERN Blechnum occidentale HAMMOCK FERN Blechnum spicant DEER FERN Cyathea cooperi AUSTRALIAN TREE FERN (st) Cyrtomium falcatum HOLLY FERN Dicksonia antartica TASMANIAN TREE FERN (st) Microlepia strigosa LACE FERN Nephrolepis cordifolia SOUTHERN SWORD FERN Platycerium bifurcatum STAGHORN FERN Polypodium aureum HAREÂS-FOOT FERN Polystichum munitum SWORD FERN Pyrrosia lingua JAPANESE FELT FERN Pyrrosia lingua ÂCristata CRESTED JAPANESE FELT FERN Pyrrosia polydactyla PALM-LEAF FERN Rumohra adiantiformis LEATHERLEAF FERN Woodwardia fimbriata GIANT CHAIN FERN Hardy (?) Bromeliads -- Aechmea recurvata and vars benrathii and ortgiesii Billbergia distachia and var maculata Billbergia nutans Billbergia pyramidalis and var striata Billbergia ÂSanta Barbara Bromelia balansae Dyckia ferox Dyckia fosteriana Dyckia fosteriana x brevifolia Fasicularia pitcairnifolia Puya alpestris Puya berteroniana Puya chilensis Puya raimondii Puya spathacea Tillandsia grandis Tillandsia ionantha Tillandsia recurvata and even... CREATING A TROPICAL-ESQUE GARDEN USING CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS Medium to Large Trees -- Lithocarpus densiflora TANBARK OAK Quercus tomentella ISLAND OAK Umbellularia californica CALIFORNIA BAY-LAUREL Small Trees -- Fremontodendron californicum FLANNELBUSH Garrya elliptica SILKTASSEL Lyonothamnus floribundus asplenifolius SANTA CRUZ IRONWOOD Prunus illicifolia lyonii CATALINA CHERRY Smallest trees (actually large shrubs but, with selective pruning,Â) -- Aesculus californica CALIFORNIA BUCKEYE Calycanthus occidentalis CALIFORNIA SPICEBUSH Dendromecon harfordii ISLAND BUSH POPPY Comarostaphylis diversifolia SUMMER HOLLY Fremontodendron californicum FLANNEL BUSH, FREMONTIA Myrica californica PACIFIC WAX MYRTLE Rhamnus californica COFFEEBERRY Sambucus mexicana BLUE ELDERBERRY Really Big Shrubs (up to 15-20 feet and sometimes more) -- (eventually, these can be trained as small trees by "limbing up", if so desired) Comarostaphylis diversifolia SUMMER HOLLY Dendromecon harfordii ISLAND BUSH POPPY Fremontodendron californicum FLANNELBUSH Garrya elliptica SILKTASSEL Myrica californica PACIFIC WAX MYRTLE Sambucus mexicana BLUE ELDERBERRY Large Shrubs (8-15 feet) -- Calycanthus occidentalis CALIFORNIA SPICEBUSH Dendromecon harfordii ISLAND BUSH POPPY Fremontodendron ÂCalifornia Glory C. G. FREMONTIA Fremontodendron ÂPacific Sunset P. S. FREMONTIA Fremontodendron ÂSan Gabriel S. G. FREMONTIA Garrya elliptica COAST SILK-TASSEL Myrica californica PACIFIC WAX MYRTLE Rhamnus californica COFFEEBERRY Medium Shrubs (5-10 feet)-- Dendromecon rigida BUSH POPPY Fremontodendron ÂKen Taylor K. T. FREMONTIA Mahonia ÂGolden Abundance G.A. BARBERRY Mahonia nevinii NEVINÂS BARBERRY Mahonia ÂSkylark SKYLARK MAHONIA Rhamnus californica ÂEve CaseÂ, ÂMound San Bruno COFFEEBERRY Small Shrubs and Taller Subshrubs (2-5 feet) -- Carpenteria californica ÂElizabeth BUSH ANEMONE Galvezia juncea BAJA BUSH SNAPDRAGON Galvezia speciosa ISLAND SNAPDRAGON Garrya veatchii SILK-TASSEL BUSH Mimulus aurantiacus Hybrids BUSH MONKEY FLOWER Vaccinium ovatum (taller in shade) EVERGREEN HUCKLEBERRY Large Perennials -- Romneya coulteri and hybrids MATILLIJA POPPY Romneya trichocalyx MATILLIJA POPPY Woodwardia fimbriata CHAIN FERN Medium Perennials -- Adiantum capillus-veneris MAIDENHAIR FERN Adiantum pedatum FIVE-FINGER MAIDENHAIR Blechnum spicant DEER FERN Epipactis gigantea GIANT STREAM ORCHID Iris macrosiphon BIG-TUBE IRIS Penstemon centranthifolius SCARLET BUGLER Penstemon spectabilis SHOWY PENSTEMON Polypodium glycyrrhiza LICORICE FERN Polypodium scouleri WESTERN LEATHERLEAF FERN Polystichum dudleyi DUDLEYÂS SWORDFERN Polystichum munitum WESTERN SWORD FERN Polystichum munitum WESTERN SWORD FERN Small Perennials -- Adiantum aleuticum ALEUTIAN MAIDENHAIR FERN Adiantum jordani JORDANÂS MAIDENHAIR FERN Anemopsis californica YERBA MANSA Asarum lemmonii WILD GINGER Athyrium felix-femina LADY FERN Chlorogalum pomeridianum AMOLE, SOAP PLANT Heuchera maxima and hybrids CORAL BELLS Iris douglasiana DOUGLAS IRIS Iris Pacific Coast Hybrids PCH IRIS Lilium humboldtii HUMBOLDT LILY Lilium washingtonianum WASHINGTON LILY Lobelia cardinalis CARDINAL LOBELIA Lobelia dunnii BLUE LOBELIA Mimulus cardinalis SCARLET MONKEY FLOWER Mimulus guttatus CREEK MONKEY FLOWER Salvia spathacea HUMMINGBIRD SAGE Sisyrinchium bellum BLUE-EYED GRASS Sisyrinchium californicum GOLDEN-EYED GRASS Verbena lilacina LILAC VERBENA Grasses and Grasslike Plants -- Carex barbarae SANTA BARBARA SEDGE Carex nudata CALIFORNIA BLACK-FLOWERING SEDGE Carex pansa CALIFORNIA MEADOW SEDGE Carex praegracilis CLUSTERED FIELD SEDGE Carex spissa SAN DIEGO SEDGE Carex tumulicola BERKELEY SEDGE Cyperus eragrostis TALL FLAT SEDGE Deschampsia caespitosa TUFTED HAIRGRASS Deschampsia elongata SLENDER HAIRGRASS Eleocharis macrostachya SPIKE RUSH Eleocharis montevidensis SPIKE RUSH Equisetum hyemale HORSETAIL Juncus effusus COMMON RUSH Juncus patens RUSH Nolina parryi BEAR GRASS Groundcovers -- Arctostaphylos ÂPacific Mist P. M. MANZANITA Arctostaphylos uva-ursi cultivars KINNICK-KINNICK Asarum caudatum WILD GINGER Asarum hartwegii HARTWEG'S GINGER Carex barbarae SANTA BARBARA SEDGE* Carex nudata CALIFORNIA BLACK-FLOWERING SEDGE Carex pansa CALIFORNIA MEADOW SEDGE* Carex praegracilis MOUNTAIN MEADOW SEDGE* Carex spissa SAN DIEGO SEDGE Carex tumulicola BERKELEY SEDGE* Ceanothus gloriosus cultivars POINT REYES CEANOTHUS Fragaria chiloensis BEACH STRAWBERRY Mahonia repens CREEPING BARBERRY Rhamnus californica ÂSeaview LOW COFFEEBERRY Ribes viburnifolium EVERGREEN CURRANT Satureja douglasii YERBA BUENA Vancouveria planipetala INSIDE-OUT FLOWER Joe