Sorry beng, but thanks for the update. I wonder if Longwood does anything to keep their beautiful larch trees alive in SE PA. I think like knowing how sausage is made, you aren't really supposed to know what they might or might not do in terms of chemical treatment. There is a tree in a private garden west of Harrisburg. It's always been growing in the shade of pines so perhaps that kept its root run cool and relatively dry...? OTOH there has been solid evidence of a handful them still growing well in parts of the deep south like Alabama. I once analyzed the records of - who was it, MIssouri Botanic Garden? I can't even remember now - and noticed that, just as I suspected, the ones to have survived there long-term were grown from seed collected in Japan. The ones that died probably came from European forestry sources = inbred. No current seed vendor has seeds collected in Japan, and many hours spent in google translator to try to locate a Japanese native seed seller were unsuccessful; the US horticulturalist living in southern Japan who posts to various other boards told me he had never encountered any interest in selling seeds of most native species. According to him, In the very rare case someone wants a wild plant there, they just go dig one up.

Ilene, I don't know if you visit the NWS website like I do. Here's their latest warning for the Caney creek. Actually, there are three back to back warnings . I included all three in case there is info in there that is helpful. I am positive something good will come of all of this, even if we lack the wisdom right now to understand what the good may be. Keeping a positive thought in my head, and a prayer in my heart for all affected by this weather. :) Dawn WGUS84 KTSA 011913 FLSTSA FLOOD STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 212 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2007 ...MAJOR FLOODING CONTINUES TO BE FORECAST ALONG THE CANEY RIVER AT BARTLESVILLE AND NEAR COLLINSVILLE... OKC147-020312- 212 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2007 THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE CANEY RIVER AT BARTLESVILLE * UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. * AT 1 PM SUNDAY THE STAGE WAS 16.3 FEET. * MODERATE FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MAJOR FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FLOOD STAGE IS 13.0 FEET. * FORECAST...THE CANEY RIVER AT BARTLESVILLE WILL CONTINUE RISING... CREST NEAR 21.7 FEET TUESDAY MORNING AND THEN BEGIN FALLING. * WHEN THE CANEY RIVER REACHES 21 FEET AT BARTLESVILLE...VERY SEVERE FLOODING WILL OCCUR FROM DEWEY TO OCHELATA. SOME HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN BARTLESVILLE AND SUBURBAN AREAS WILL BE FLOODED. OLD HIGHWAY 75 WILL BE CLOSED. THIS WILL COMPARE WITH THE FLOOD WHICH OCCURRED ON MARCH 3 1975 WHEN THE CANEY RIVER CRESTED AT 20.90 FEET. $$ OKC147-020312- 212 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2007 THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE CANEY RIVER NEAR RAMONA * UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. * AT 12 PM SUNDAY THE STAGE WAS 27.8 FEET. * MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MODERATE FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FLOOD STAGE IS 26.0 FEET. * FORECAST...THE CANEY RIVER NEAR RAMONA WILL CONTINUE RISING...CREST NEAR 28.9 FEET THURSDAY EVENING AND THEN BEGIN FALLING. * WHEN THE CANEY RIVER REACHES 28 FEET NEAR RAMONA...MODERATE AGRICULTURAL FLOODING WILL OCCUR FROM OCHELATA TO THE NORTHEASTERN TIP OF TULSA COUNTY. SOME RURAL ROADS WILL BE IMPASSABLE INCLUDING THE ROAD BETWEEN RAMONA AND TALALA. $$ OKC131-143-020312- 212 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2007 THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE CANEY RIVER NEAR COLLINSVILLE * UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. * AT 1 PM SUNDAY THE STAGE WAS 28.0 FEET. * MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MAJOR FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FLOOD STAGE IS 26.0 FEET. * FORECAST...THE CANEY RIVER NEAR COLLINSVILLE ROSE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE YESTERDAY EARLY AFTERNOON AND WILL CONTINUE RISING TO NEAR 35.4 FEET FRIDAY BEFORE DAWN. * WHEN THE CANEY RIVER REACHES 35 FEET NEAR COLLINSVILLE...VERY SEVERE FLOODING WILL OCCUR FROM COLLINSVILLE TO POINTS DOWNSTREAM. CONSIDERABLE FARMLAND WILL BE FLOODED. RURAL ROADS NEAR THE RIVER WILL BECOME IMPASSABLE. THIS WILL EXCEED A FLOOD WHICH OCCURRED ON MAY 11 1993 WHEN THE CANEY RIVER CESTED AT 34.40 FEET. $$

I won't be much help as I'm strictly a service tech on the commercial side of the industry but, a heat load calculation should be done in each zone (if not already done) to give you guys the best match in terms of unit sizing. Another thing to take into consideration is the fact that they'll have to run a lineset and wiring to each individual air handler from the condenser and depending on the layout of the structure, that could be a factor in the pricing. Between the different brands, I'm not sure how much pricing difference there is, assuming all are the same efficiency rating. Most of the mini splits I've worked on have been the Mitsubishi brand, some for comfort cooling and most for small IT closets. I've never worked on LG or Trane mini splits, but service, manufacture support, and parts availability for the Mitsubishi units have been great for me personally. Hopefully some of the other guys more familiar with these can help you out more.

bellburgmaggie Thanks for putting that mockup together! Gives me a great idea of how beautiful I can make this look with some work. The tree and flowers you show on the opposite side of the creek is the neighbor's property, but there's still a lot I can do above the culverts and on our side. l pinkmountain I don't really know that a rain garden would slow the water through the culvert, as the other side of the culvert/uphill stream is across the street and not on our property. mad_gallica I suppose there could still be an obstruction, but it's only during seriously heavy torrential rains that we've seen it rise to the grass-line...during times when there's also flash flooding throughout the city. We have been here since late spring last year and I don't recall seeing anything of interest pop up along the water, but we will continue to keep an eye out. I have a friend who can come help me ID what trees are there and anything else we might have missed, but there doesn't seem to be much aside from the trees & vines. Thanks everyone for your help and advice. I came into this with the idea of doing some landscaping this spring, but you've all convinced me to use the spring and summer to clean things up and get ready for planting in the fall instead.