Yes, we are Sunset 3B here.... The sunshine on most days and temps in summer is the reason so much agriculture grows successfully here. Of course, they irrigate. I am surprised Wenatchee is the same zone as us, but I guess it doesn't take into account the amount of snowfall they get (They are probably the -15f extreme.. we are more like -5f.) RE: the suitability of the trees I listed, The Thornless Honeylocust seems to thrive here, it does well in alkaline soil and is drought tolerant. As a prairie tree, it thrives in full sun. I have noticed many honeylocusts in yards that do not irrigate, growing just fine... The list of negatives of the tree is pretty short, and it seems very adaptable to our conditions. Linden -- RE: irrigating, I don't know. We will have some lawn on the property, so a tree/trees in that area would get more water. Linden tolerates alkaline soil and has small leaves... Thus, it seemed to be an *option.* ash -- I still have to go to our local extension office.. I will ask them about borers here. Ash also tolerates alkaline soil and was another option for my lawn area. If the borers are that bad here, I won't consider it.

I always hear people saying how terrible silver maple trees are and not to plant them whether its because they are deemed invasive, messy and because of surface roots. These ones on our property were planted I would have to say 30-40 years ago if not older and yes they are huge. As of last summer I didn't see one surface root anywhere in the yard. I also have a few flower beds around them and haven't had an issue. I was just unsure if the surface root problem of the October Glories were as big of an issue as people make it seem, since clearly the issue with silver maples doesn't exist in my yard...I also should add that the largest silver maple is 4 feet from our septic tank but not close to the leach field, never had a problem with the septic tank, foundation, concrete driveway or anything.

Thank you both for helping me. It's been a hard decision. My village replaces parkway trees with Norway maples (as well as lindens, honeylocust, hackberry, crabapple, and, until recently, white ash) and they kindly let me opt out and supply my own alternate tree (subject to village approval), provided I pay for the tree and take care of the planting myself. So for $$ reasons I am getting a tree I can plant myself (around 1.5" caliper). That's why I am so interested in growth rates (it's hard to get used to tiny trees after having been surrounded by two particularly enormous ones. I found an autumn blaze (1.5", maybe 2") with good crotch angles on sale at my local nursery that I am going to plant. I think if I were getting something larger (say 3.5") then I'd be more inclined to get the October Glory, but that's a good bit more money (for the tree + delivery and planting), and I'm already in the doghouse with my spouse for spending money on a parkway tree that could have technically been replaced for free! It will be interesting to compare the growth of this tree to my next door neighbor's 3.0" norway maple that was planted 2 weeks ago to replace their former parkway elm. I'm hoping my tree will "catch" the norway in four years, and hopefully be close to twice the size in 10 years. I plan to take photos. thanks again.

I can't be of much help other than my books. Here's what Jacobson, Arthur Lee says and he's opinionated: Acer rubrum 'October Glory' PP2116 (1961) Introduced in 1961-62 by Princeton nursery of New Jersey. Leaves with long red stems; stay green longer than usual into autumn, extending the seasonal display, giving dependable late-season crimson-red fall color. Tree rounded, not dense. Female. (Females Produce Seeds which = weeds) 'Red Sunset' Acer rubrum Originated in the late 1940's by Schmidt nursery of Boring, OR. Introduced in 1966. The most commonly planted Red Maple cultivar in the 1970's and '80's. The name was inspired by the song "Red Sails in the Sunset." Its fall color, at least in the north, is long-lasting and superb orange-red. The tree makes a broadly oval crown. Leaves glossy, thick, strongly three-lobed. Female. Here are some other interesting sounding ones to me: 'Drake' Acer rubrum: Named after Virgil James Drake of County Line nursery, Hartford, MI. Introduced by Schmidt nursery of Boring, OR. Tree of normal growth rate, its crown fairly natural-looking, not markedly round or pyramidal. But its fall color begins very early and goes through changes lasting a long time: distinctively turning from green to a colored border through shades of blue-violet to red and yellow. He doesn't list a favorite. Dax