plantingman, ninebark is extremely prone to powdery mildew in some locations...just thought you should know. We've had many people, just here in the gardenweb, rip them out in frustation. I believe that I would try to find something that will contrast with your lantana....darker, larger foliage perhaps. Flowers wouldn't be of the utmost interest to me since your lantana will be covered up with blooms for several months of the year. What about something like Weigela? I have no idea of your location (other than USDA zone), but in my baked clay perennial beds (not irrigated), they perform well in full sun/very little extra water conditions. A very nice 'companion' for my assorted perennials and annuals in the same beds. You might also consider one of the junipers for a big contrast. We've chosen Juniperus davurica "Parsonii" as something of an anchor for our landscaping. Talk about sun, heat, and drought tolerant! We have many planted in our front beds, and they make a crisp, flowing foundation for all kinds of contrasting shrubs, trees, perennials and annuals. Parsoni juniper grows rather quickly and our rather diminutive three gallon shrubs now spread over 6 feet from tip to tip! They look best if left unpruned, so space them with that in mind.

At the risk of beating a dead horse, I'm posting one more pic. Only because I see additional crack forming in the bark. I wonder if its because the tree is exposed to morning sun as well as afternoon sun? Is it possible the trunk being directly exposed to sun in the morning (as opposed to afternoon when its shaded by leaves) is causing this to happen? I can see atlease two additional splits forming in bark and they are all on the side of trunk facing morning sun. That being said, I just realized I haven't really looked at the other side of the tree............. Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I've never seen (in person) a good Louie. In fact it was one of the worse-looking conifers I've ever seen. I was looking for a photo from Bickelhaupt Arb. Iowa I took several years ago and cannot find it. Anyway, the tree is in mostly-shade and is ragged, not dense but open, and big-time dull!! Looks like a chlorotic specimen all the way. No good gold but rather looks to be dieing. A lot of shade though. You ask what's #1, #2 and so on. Pinus sylvestris 'Aurea' - Extremely impressive. I have walked up to a 40 or 50 footer at a private garden that Rich Eyre brought me too (Ken's suggestion to visit Rich's Foxwillow Pines) during very early spring/late winter and it's incredible is the only word to define this tree. It's smaller rival 'Gold Coin' exactly as impressive. There stood one of these about 10 feet from the 'Aurea' and it was only seven feet tall, about half as wide. Pinus virginiana 'Wate's Golden' Looks like a wide-spreading and not as tall tree over time. I've walked across a few at Rich's Foxwillow Pines that were possibly 15 feet wide and only 8-9 feet tall. School bus "yellow." It glistens off the snow on a sunny day. Chief Joseph, Very slow to get anything of size. You'd need to buy a large plant to get anywhere or you'll be waiting 15-20+ years for a plant less than 10 feet. Quite Narrow. Sylvestris 'Aurea' is a big sucker. We're talking 50 feet tall and 25 feet wide. The Chief, 10 feet tall and 3 feet wide at the base and halfway up two feet wide. 'Nisbeth's Aurea' I'd scratch that for the areas you're looking to fill. Dan has one, maybe he could post a photo, Dan? Something that makes a lot of sense to me now are plants like Skylands. Gold all year. Well I guess you already found that idea, anyways: Abies nordmanniana 'Aurea' (available in the US, I don't know) fir Chamaecyparis nootkatenis 'Variegata' Alaskan cypress Pinus strobus 'Golden Candles' I had written on my notes that this was exceptional.^ Pinus strobus 'Dragon Eye' aka 'Bennett' aka 'Bennet's Dragon Eye': 'Dragon Eye' Pinus jeffreyi 'Gold' - Buy a larger one should you choose. It's been hardy for me despite the zone 7 they say about. Pinus koraiensis 'Dragon Eye' Pinus parviflora 'Fukai' not as attractive of a plant but nice regardless. Pinus resinosa 'Aurea' (A+ in my book). Ken, photo please? Best-suited pine for Illinois/midwest with humidity. Hope I made your decision more difficult ;-)!!!!!!! Dax

They found that roots and soil organisms developed symbiotic relationships where one plants roots would have excess P for example while another needed P. The plant that needed P took it from the plant that had it and plants select for organisms that increase particular plant available minerals, which increased over all plant available minerals. Notice most any natural situation and there is diversity, duh! Where it isn't so are situations of harsh conditions and those environments are very fragile. Widely known that monocultures are prone to pest and disease problems.