Thanks so much for your help. It's a beautiful plant. The only thing I can figure regarding it dropping leaves is that the soil became too dry. Unusual, because I water it once a week. It was looking droopy, though, so I watered it last night and it perked right up. Thanks again.

The problem you might be running into is the term "maple." That is a whole family of trees with dozens of species with various characteristics, everything from the tiniest japanese maple to the largest black maple. You need scientific names to make sure you get the right species. Two "maple" trees to avoid are silver maple and norway maple. The scientific name for silver maple is Acer saccharinum. The scientific name for Norway maple is Acer plantanoides. Both are fast growing trees, which is a great characteristic if you want fast shade in your lifetime, but makes for weak wood so they are susceptible to disease and hollowing out, etc. and can fall over. They are also short lived trees. They are unlikely to rot out and die in your lifetime, but perhaps the next owner or the next's. These trees are all over the big box nurseries, so now you know to avoid them. Red maple is slower growing. There is a hybrid (cross) between red maple and silver maple out there that is commonly sold, I'm not sure how wind resistent it is. Not even sure if it thrives in your climate, maybe not. Forget what I said about Honey Locust on the Garden Design forum, it doesn't grow in your zone, sorry. Another alternative that was mentioned here is Nyssa sylvatica, which I have heard referred to commonly as Black gum. Below is a link to trees recommended for your zone. I have no idea how these trees do with hurricanes, but I doubt a tree would get big enough in your lifetime to drop on you and kill you. So leave that headache for the future, lol! How about a magnolia? That one doesn't get huge branches, at least not around here. It has a roundish crown, so no individual section gets that big. You can also control how a tree branches by pruning it early on. Really, the main thing you want to avoid is what I mentioned at the beginning of this post, trees that rot out in the middle. Those trees are the ones that can have unknown problems and all of a sudden crack and break. But again, probably not in your lifetime. When it's cold, snakes like to bask in the sun on rocks, so avoid rock landscaping in sunny spots. They also hide in debris piles, under low shrubs, etc. If you have a woodpile next you your house that might be area to find snakes occasionally. So if you plant trees for shade, you shouldn't be doing anything that will particularly draw snakes to your house, they have plenty of shade out in the back woods. Although there are no guarantees. What I'd do is learn to identify poisonous snakes, and just be careful. Ordinary caution should take care of it, it is very unlikely that you'll get bitten unless you start pestering a snake or startle it. Usually they slither away. And if you do get bitten if you get medical help it's unlikely that you will get seriously ill. I'm not pooh poohing snake concerns, I'm just saying you have to consider it part of life, you're much more likely to get hit by a car or get in a car accident, and yet you don't cower in fear when getting in your car. Please don't think this is condescending, believe me I know what it is like to have annoying wildlife to deal with, and I assume that's what you'd like to avoid around your house and that makes total sense. Stick with the tips I mention and you should be fine. Oh, and as for kid friendly landscaping, how about some fruit trees? Although they have bees, but again, just teach your kids to pay attention a little bit to what they are doing when outside. I worked for years at a camp, not too many injuries caused by wildlife. The worst problem we had was kids unknowingly stepping on nests of ground bees. But trees have very little to do with whether you'll get those or not. Here is a link that might be useful: Tree Selection guide from South Carolina Forestry Commission

Closer to the coast you are, easier it is to get them through the dry season. Natives--Pacific Ironwood, Prunus ilicifolia, Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) perhaps. Schinus molle are a non-native invasive pest, eventual pavement-lifters, and drop a lot of litter, but they would probably survive. Ask at Las Pilitas in Escondido, they may have some suggestions. Here is a link that might be useful: Las Pilitas native plant nursery

I just love looking at that tree. It certainly gets lots of attention yr round!! I enjoy how you change it out to make it look different each time. Those cute decos, and the little cottages below are just the right amount and make it look so sweet. Right now I'm chuckling, thinking of The Bunnies - 'Waiting In The Wings' !! lol jane