Tom--and the rest of my advisers here: I forgot to mention that I have some hickories. I have two shellbark, pignut, mockernut, and shagbark. I have two shellbark because I planted the first one on a bit of a ridge where the soil is more shallow, I subsequently read that shellbark hickory is generally a bottomland species. In the spring the buds get very large, and just before and after break, the bud scales, or whatever they are called, grow and become red, so the tree seems to be covered with flowers--beautiful. I have some hickory on my timberland, and one shagbark, especially, is absolutely gorgeous. Looking at this tree, one could imagine it is the most beautiful tree in the world. One problem here is they grow very, very slowly. I also have 2 hiccan hybrids, which are supposed to grow extremely fast, but for me they are almost not growing, even after 5 years, and I have three pecans, also of the genus Carya, of course. They are also growing very slow in my environment here. I love hickories, but here--what's the old saying? "I should live so long!" I did some more research on American beech--based on what I can find out, maybe my initial idea of not bothering with it here is correct. They really, really don't like droughts, and don't like exposed sites. I never, never see any in the woods around here, and I am not sure I can point to a single one in Winchester. Beautiful trees, but I am afraid not for here. Well, I am still looking for ideas. I know it is a sin in the minds of many in these forums, but I may just prune up a Norway spruce or two for shade trees, and/or white pine. But so far the oaks are the best I have. I mentioned the white and swamp white oaks, but the two largest are Shummard oaks--they thrive here. Oh, and I have cottonwoods. They are not spreading yet, so not much shade. Where I grew up--from age 5 to 15, the primary tree for shade and general enjoyment was a cottonwood. Gorgeous!! I have a Siouxland cultivar of eastern cottonwood. In the ground 5 years, 20 feet tall, and looking like it may be the star of all the 120 or so kinds of trees I have here!! Wonderful large leaves, rich green, glossy, and so far this tree is acting like it is more drought resistant than my other cottonwoods. --spruce

'North Star' is from a branch reversion of Picea glauca 'Densata', otherwise known as Dwarf Alberta Spruce. This reversion has an intermediate rate of growth and in time will become decent-sized. Overall it is a nice all around green tree for a smaller landscape but it does grow nearly 6"-8" a year here in zone 4. So, figure out what size you are planning on starting with and add 6-8" every year (possibly more when it is fully established) and you will get what you can expect for a full sized specimen. I can see the ones I've used in the landscape will need candle pruned in several years to maintain the size required. If you are looking for something a little slower there are many other options.

I forgot to mention I love the idea of the planters with greenery next to the door with the christmas balls. that is so cute. I swear everytime I come to this thread I smell pine. LOL I like the greenery on the handrails. I brought fake greenery like that in Michaels a couple of years ago with the white lights in it and it looked so elegant I hated to take it down!!! Caroline your husband looks sooooo cold LOL. That is something I do not miss although they say we might get hit with lots of snow this year (NC) and I am not looking forward to it AT ALL amck I would love to see your porch and front yard. chicoryflower thanks for the compliment. The front is only a small part of the property the back is REALLY beautiful. The Orig owner was a gardner but it happens that after she passed the next owners did not do much so the whole place is overgrown and out of control. it was just waiting for my TLC!! I have copied pictures that I saw in here for real life pine decorating and next year I am going to DO IT UP!! LOL. I see right now you guys are going to keep me sooo busy.

Pruning it is. I'll let you know how it looks in the spring. Cecily, thanks for your very kind comment. It is a work in progress. Wish we had thought of moving the fence back 15 years ago before the arborvitae where planted. We didn't have the deer problem back then that we do now. I have to remind myself that it will be much nicer with a evergreen/deciduous garden that has depth instead of a "green wall". Still need some privacy, so we have added a combination of evergreen textures and some deciduous. We have the winter to plan for the shrubs that will give us four seasons, fragrance, and colorful blooms. Suggestions are welcomed. Over the last few years we have staggered the plantings of the following: 1 weeping Serbian spruce 3 dragon lady hollies 3 Prague viburnums 1 cryptomeria 1 Gowdy oriental spruce 3 Sweet Thing magnolias 1 yellowwood The Yellowwood and the Serbian are our anchors and because of a slight hill nothing in the middle needs to be more than 9 to 12 feet high to give us adequate coverage. Now the fun begins to identify the right shrubs, grasses, and perennials to make all the money and effort worthwhile. Again, suggestions are most welcome.