Wow, thanks for the recommendations to all of you. I do like the idea of Ribes, it has flowers similar to fuschia and the birds will love it. Many of your other recommendations I planted at my parents' home during the last few years, so I can easily make cuttings. I might have to grow some of those full sun species in pots up on our balcony where some spots get full sun year round. Carpenteria may be nice, too. Some white to brighten up the shady spot. Calycanthus is a nice flower morphology, and I love the fragrance of it. Yerba Buena would be a nice groundcover under the trees by the street, and again, I like that it has fragrance. It will like the fog in Summer, too. Phacelia campanularia is one of my favorite flowers, the blue color is amazing. I only worry about the kids in the neighborhood touching it, it gave me a pretty bad dematitis a few months ago when I collected seeds from them. I've been trying to estimate how much sun that area will get in the peak of summer, in June. I think one strip will be filtered/dappled shade, and half of one will be in direct sunlight for a few hours when the sun is highest in the sky. The Las Pilitas site is basically my encyclopedia for getting info about plants, especially their hummingbird and butterfly plant lists. That, google image searches and the online Jepson manual. And even though they aren't natives, I've always wanted to grow Hellebores, so maybe that will go in somewhere too. Thanks again, and happy gardening.

I am sure you could find them in which ever Twin Cities quadrant you live in. Do plant them in the spring or early summer, not late summer or fall. Trees that big are almost always dug in the field, rather than grown in pots. You will see them in burlapped balls of soil, or burlapped balls put in pots (maybe with soil to cover) for merchandising. So if they are tipped in the pot, it's just because they wern't put in straight, and is not a concern. Since they are recently dug, most of the root system has been severed. With trees that large, they need most of the growing season to recover before winter sets in. The Smaragd arborvitae (a.k.a. Emerald or Emerald Green) is much narrower than Nigra, and a more refined tree. Nigra is wider, and more natural looking. If money is a concern, go to the big box stores, and where ever you buy, be clear about any guarantees that come with. While 1 year is a standard, some small nurseries differ. And always, save your receipts!

Thanks all for the sites. Lin, I did travel to Glenmar and have been there in the past. Very nice nursery and I picked up a lot of perenials. I also stopped by the Foliage Farm near Kutztown, which also has a large selection of shade trees and perenials. I still am have trouble finding a good selection of trees( Deodora Cedar's, Blue Atlas, Robusta Juniper etc.) I traveled to Buck's County last weekend and found four great gardencenters within 10 min. of each other. Most had a great selection, but no delivery to my area. Guess I need to get a truck. One of the nicest down there was Farm & Garden Station off of route 611. Any others with nice locations please let me know. Dean

Here is the winterberry from my upper garden (where I know that's what it is -- it was purchased from a nursery years ago): the leaves are glossier and have a more definite point at the tip, but otherwise, I do think both are winterberries! (Wonderful news!)