Brandon, I have read that Franklinia is VERY susceptible to phythoptera (sp) and that due to extensive cultivation of cotton in the past most soils are infected with it. I know it is a naturally occurring pathogen, infecting a diverse number of species. They are certainly not common in MidTenn, I don't believe I have seen one here. The largest one I've ever seen is (was?) at a nursery in Fairfield County CT. Probably 12-15' tall in the early '80's. At that size the plant was kinda open and a little lanky, but overall healthy and bloomed heavily from August to hard frost. As far as monkeypuzzle/China fir, I think that is a local thing. Cunninghamia was fairly common in these parts before the '85 freeze took most of them out.I think the average person just knew them as monkeypuzzle, and probably never heard of Araucaria araucana- the 'real' monkeypuzzle.

This is a new reply to an old post, but there are native live oaks in the area roughly between Ft. Worth, Abilene, and Wichita Falls, Texas that should work beautifully in your area. For some reason, nobody has developed commercial cultivars from this area. Live oaks, especially along the northern margin of their range, can vary in their characteristics. The ideal would be one with dense foliage that stays dark green all winter on a non-stoloniferous tree that branches With strong crotch angles. For commercial growers, it would probably require two trips to western North Texas—one in February/March to identify trees with the right characteristics, and once again in September/October to collect acorns. Maybe ten years of field trials would be in order after that. Of course this would be more of a long-range project than collecting an annual or perennial, but it could fundamentally change the landscape in Tennessee, Kentucky, and the Eastern Seaboard up to Philadelphia or maybe New York.

Can anyone recommend a good PB in the Nashville area. We are looking at inground fiberglass pools. I am new to this site....Thanks.

I would hop over to Mission Stone & Tile in Nashville. That is where my arabesque backsplash in the last house came from. My laundry room floor in the old house. I've gotten tile for my master bath in the new house and also the laundry room floor. I do believe others here have also used them based on my experiences. If you go in, ask to speak with Mary Elizabeth, if she is available. Tell her Karen from GardenWeb sent you. She has a very creative staff and are able to help you out. I think they might actually be doing something with slabs now, but I'm not sure. I don't live there, so I haven't been there in person. Good luck. And just for fun, I did look at HGTV's "Be on TV" tab, and there were no Nashville castings happening. Same with DIYnetwork, and really, what has happened to TLC--it's all brides and people with some outlandish story or addiction...so unless you want to eat your old cabinets, I think that is certainly not an option....lol