mainegrower, hi! I can't say for sure that's what this is. When I bought this older house, this older plant was out front, beside another. The other I did ID as a big (thus old) Mountain Laurel. This "thing" I'm talking about is decidous, it blooms first (pink, fragrant) then when it stops, the plant beside it (Mt Laurel for sure)takes effect. Perhaps it's an azalea, who knows? It's something... in the family. It's big, I understand it may have roots more shallow than other things. And maybe it can take some abuse, I've certainly done that. But my back isn't great (understatement) and it's on a slope. Then there's the issue of where would I put it, if it survives... but I'm just reluctant to not try b/c I know things like these grow slowly. It's balanced by is it worth the effort... I still have time to think before the ground becomes unfrozen. I don't even know when the wall will be done, waiting on that. (meaning it could bloom first, then I could cut way back)... I don't know... THANKS everyone!

The Goldenrain tree has always been one of my favorites, especially when they get bigger, although they can look a little coarse when younger. Another one of my very favorite trees is Sourwood, Oxydendrum arboreum. It has a more upright habit and is really drop-dead gorgeous IMHO. It can get taller, but it's very slow growing and easily kept to size. There are also some very nice Crabapple cultivars that are disease resistant in our area and are sure beautiful in bloom. Bboy your info on 'Raywood' Ash is taken way out of context. Those are California authors/experts from a California organization (Saratoga) published in a journal with many Cali-centric articles. Ash diseases are different for them, where they are trying to grow these just too warm. Raywoods do great here and in actual practice most have that stereotypical near-perfect ash shape. They're on many of the recommended lists for Seattle trees by local experts. [1 2 3 4] Locust8, while Albizia is also one of my very favorite trees, I just want to make sure you know that they are almost always considerably wider than taller. - Tom

Wild bears, coyotes, wolves, all kinds of nasty beasts, like dogs raised in homes! They think they are rather tasty, and will try anything to get to yer fine dogs! Here, where i live, near Pittsburgh, Pa., coyotes have come here to live, and to feast mainly on the large deer herds that have taken up residence in suburbia, what with all of the nice shrubs and plants we grow just for them! And, the stray cat population, which at times was getting out of hand, has fallen off to almost nothing, along with stray dogs, and even a few dogs chained out back! I suppose nothing will persuade you to leave the dogs at home, though! But, please, don't go away for the day, from yer camper, and leave the dogs tied outside of it! there's nothing worse than having to sit all day and listen to 2 dogs ("our babies") barking their fool heads off! Ask me how i know! And, there must be some other reason why they don't want dogs in the forests, and its not because they "water" the trees! I think its more because of thoughtless dog owners who don't carry a poop bag, or some other method of cleaning up after the dog does what dogs do in the woods! Also, i haven't seen any dog sitters advertised in camping magazines, but, you might find one out there someplace! Probably some terbaccy chewing, bib over-all, straw-hatted individual,who hasn't had a good meal in weeks, and will enjoy some tasty ribs, etc.! Have fun: Rusty Jones

I need photos of the houses in Old Hickory! :) That's what I'm after. I'll publish the photos at my website, to contrast and compare the houses in Old Hickory with the houses in Norfolk. Plus, I know there were EIGHT designs of "Dupont Houses" and I only have images/photos of TWO of these designs. We have many of these Dupont Houses in Norfolk, but I can't begin to identify them, because I only have photos of TWO of the eight designs. So, in short, I need photos of those houses in Old Hickory that were built by Dupont. I do have addresses in Old Hickory. Rose