Lpinkmountain has given you a bunch of good suggestions, (& probably Eric also, though I didn't follow his links.) I have several additions of native trees, most of which I grow. Oxydendron arboreum would probably stay within your size requirements. Acer pensylvanicum tops out at about 35', has green and white striped bark, decorative dangling clusters of spring flowers (tho small and green) and yellow fall color and is a woodland native. Several native viburnums are small to medium, multistemmed trees: V. lantana, V. cassinoides &/or nudum (taxonomy is up in the air), V. prunifolium. all have white spring flowers in flat panicles, late summer to fall berries, and good fall color. Prunus americana, flowering plum, is a small native spring flowering tree with pink to white blooms. I don't know if it meets your requirement of long-lived, but the ones I know have been around 20+ years and are still plugging away. I didn't find any reference to how long they typically live. I don't know if you want to consider them as well, but there are some native large shrubs that include Clethra alnifolia (likes wetlands, has white to pink late summer flowers and golden fall foliage), Fothergilla major (white spring flowers and red to orange fall color), several of the native deciduous rhododendrons, rhus typhina (staghorn sumac, which suckers, but has the most gorgeous fall colors of any plant I know), Ilex verticillata (deciduous, nonprickly winter berry holly), and high bush blueberries. One additional note: I have Cornus alternifolia growing in full sun and full shade and every light level in between, and it's truly a four season tree: creamy white panicles of spring flowers, late summer berries (dark blue with bright red stems) and nice overall shape, peachy fall foliage, and great winter branch structure. It's fuller in sun than in shade, had more blooms, and is nicer foliage color.

I have four o'clocks too and love them. After a while, with successive reseedings ours all turned white, but they make a mass of foliage and flowers and look good and full of bloom when not much else is happening in the garden, and without water. I appreciate the dangers Anita cites, but I don't see them getting out of hand in our environment, where there's enough water for other plants to grow, and where mowing does the rest. We've had Jalapa mirabilis (four o'clocks) for years, and they've stayed where we wanted them and not strayed. On another subject, I like your freewheeling garden, Jackie. Ours is another that gets only a reasonable minimum of control, though it isn't as lush as yours--yet. And we have weed problems, which are at their worst this time of year. We're working at it, though! Melissa

Karyn, that one does look like the one i have. The one i have is a Bougainvillea x Buttiana, but i don't know the name also. Yours looks more compact, maybe because it is in a container? About the tree fern, Blechnum Gibbum (Drawf black tree fern) is a nice specimen to grow in pots. Its growth isn't stunted from being pot bound, while most of the larger tree ferns are. If you are willing to take a challenge, i have some fresh spores from my own Australian tree fern. I collected them yesterday. I've never tried growing them myself, but apperently they aren't easy. Regardless, this is the main method of propagation for this tree fern, so it is do-able. send me your address and i can get those out to you. my email is central_cali369@yahoo.com Here is a pic of my own blechnum gibbum. It is below and to the left of the Kentia palm. These are fast growers and can put 6 inches of trunk in a year under ideal conditions. Here is a link that might be useful: detailed info on Blechnum Gibbum

Thank you, Everyone, for your kind words! I was just a little stressed out earlier. I have all of my plants labeled and boxed up into April's car. Now, it's time for a little Kahulua and Cream! Tina, I put you down for the last Perilla! Erin, so glad that you can come! I think that a bag of worms would be really cool. Maybe you can do a little, tiny talk about how to raise them.....! Like Debbie said, just check at my table tomorrow to find something for trade. Rebecca, thanks for posting your phone number. April and I will be leaving at 8:00 in the morning (right after I stop and buy the donuts! We can never take a road trip without donuts!) Hopefully we won't have any trouble finding our way. Will there be bathrooms at the park? See you all soon! Necia