Did the Gumbo Limbo make it? Sorry, hi to Tom, Kat, and Natives. I love my Gumbo Limbo, it gives shade when you need it and sheds when you need mulch. Sorry I've been gone awhile. I finally found out I have Lupus disease. The sun was making me sick. Anyway, I like the gumbo limbo. It's hardy, virtually care free, interesting and a great tree to hang or tie orchids to. They aren't brittle. Hope you are all doing well. Tom, if you see this, the cactus vine you gave me gives me so much enjoyment. I was out there last night with salad plate sized blossoms, my camera, and a clip on flashlight. xxx

Some maples get cholorosis easily because of our alkaline soil -- I've seen a number of large old maples in front of houses in Pleasant Grove with very pale yellow leaves. That's chlorosis, which is an iron deficiency. Anyway, there are other maples that do quite well. I was told that Autumn Blaze maples can handle our alkaline soil well, and they do have a great red color in the fall. I have three that have beeen in the ground almost five years, but one is chlorotic. That was disappointing, and I don't know why one would do that and the other two wouldn't. But they do get great color. I think Norway maples and Emerald Queen do well here, but I don't know how good their fall color is. Maybe someone else can chime in on that. I get a pretty nice yellow leaf color from my Golden Rain trees, and they also make an awesome yellow bloom in June. I also have some flowering cherries (Kwanzan cherry), and they get a nice orangey-yellow leaf in the fall. I'll be interested in what others suggest, too.

We're having 6 of our 9 pines taken down tomorrow. Two were recently struck by lightning and the others need to come down to make way for construction of a garden shed. I won't be sorry to see any of them go. The needles are great for mulch and they do provide a measure of shade in the yard, but watching them sway with each bad storm hasn't gotten really old. I'm looking forward to transplanting my own choice of trees. Already purchased a Dawn Redwood (like Bald Cypress, but without the knees), Chalk Maple, Winged Elm, and a Silverbell. May buy a River Birch and something else before all is said and done.

You might want to ask on the trees forum since this is less of a design question and more about particular plants, and the folks who hang out there have lots of opinions about trees as well as growing experience with specific types. Tree forum