whats a garnet .. other than a red jewel ... and why not some pix??? you did a yomans job with the words.. but boy.. i am a 'look at it' guy ... other than that.. plant what makes you happy.. and dont define such by the given space .. you are aware.. you have one of the finest conifer places just north of chicago??? Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery ??? go visit ... its worth it .. google it ... ken Here is a link that might be useful: how to post pix

Gee, Hippy--aren't you the same guy who was asking for all of the free advice on what truck to buy? And, how to fix something? And, to shadetree bob: How do you think us folks learn anything? We can't all drive to those places for information. Sheesh! We'd be on the road constantly, learning stuff! And, i can't figure out why you got on the guy for giving out some free info! You guys must still be suffering from NYE celebrating! Rustyj

We've had problems this year, during warm humid days only. The cheminy had been cleaned, There is a "open" insert into the fireplace the damper has been removed. If the insert were true air-tight that wouldn't (and hand not in the past) mattered, as it blocks air-flow. I tried sprays, and baking soda in the fire box, still it smelled bad on humid days (not on hot humid days as the airconditioning seemed to prevent back flow of air from the flue. Finally I put a small electric heater in the firebox, set to come on about 1/4th of the time. This made the lower chamber warmer than outside and any air-flow was up, not down the cheminy. We're thinking about a new true air-tight with a stainless steel flue liner. I will at minimum remover the insert this spring and put the damper back in.

i am curious how much the 4 stage treatment cost .. would you mind telling us ... if the problem is solved ... and it should be solved .. and the tree ought to recover ... period ... you shouldnt be thinking that it will recur.. if it was a completed job ... so there is some logic in waiting and seeing.. what happens this year... and suggesting to the service that provided such.. that they most likely promised to solve the issue ... on the other hand... i can see the logic in being done with it.. since every time you see it.. your blood pressure probably spikes ... lol.. mine would ... i would give it.. in tree time.. at least this year.. to see the result of the money you paid .... and then go from there.. in other words.. i would be watching in tree time .. not instant gratification time .. anyway ... im at a loss how to suggest a tree for a spot in your garden.. without seeing the spot in your garden.. and its relation to the house.. etc .. how about some pix .. and we could confirm the ID with a pic of the plant and its leaves or flowers ... but i sure hope your service provider actually knew the plant ... ken btw: clay is not a tree choice issue.. its a planting issue which i easily dealt with .. EVERY ball and burlap plant you see in a nursery ... was grown in clay.. else there would not be a ball in the burlap ... you sure cant do that with soil that falls apart ... and the stuff that doesnt fall apart.. is clay ....