Tlbean, now I know the tree you are talking about. I've seen them at biltmore estate and thought about planting one, but I would rather buy locally than mail order. I guess top on my list of redbuds would be Cercis Canadensis 'Floating Clouds', it's a really nice variegated cultivar. I'm also on look out for 'rising sun', 'merlot', and 'ruby falls'.

I actually did look at both the burkwoodii and the delavayi but I was trying to frame a planting area with one on each side and the structure of the former just seemed to fit the space better. I suppose only time will tell if I made the wrong choice :-) I did look at the delavayi again today when I went to by my Lion's Head "pony tree". I have a long way to go on this project and I'll have some places for it. jb, It's a work in progress :-) This little spot sits just off the pond and the combination of the humidity from the waterfalls and the mixture of various fragrances, is definitely a welcome respite at the end of a long hard day on the road.

In Trees of Seattle - Second Edition (2006) Jacobson has this entry, for Osmanthus x fortunei (reproduced here in part): "Leaves to 3 3/4" long, edged with up to 12 spiny teeth per side. Flowers smell like apricots when blooming in October - December. The clone of common cultivation is [male]. 4115 Brooklyn Ave NE: 27 1/2' x 5'9". Arboretum #78-50B is 28' tall, #78-50A is 26 1/2' tall, both multi-trunked in 25-1E. Cleopatra Ave NW, south of NW 73rd St, a west side yard: 24' tall multi-trunked. The cv. 'San Jose' has larger, pale orange flowers, and leaves to 4 3/4" long. Arboretum #932-48B is 31' tall, 3-trunked in 25-B. The SE corner of Brooklyn Ave N & N 56th St has one west of the house"

grassroofgirl I can't be-lieve I never thought of this as evergreen - YES, I think she is. I always was focused on the flower/scent - and I think there are berries too. I do remember, quite a few catbirds would hang out in her branches in summer time.. it's hard to say what a "prime specimen" would look like - she was time-honored when I got here - presently about 10 feet. here are some more pics of the mystery shrub.... flowers have faded, so there's a better view of the ...???dunno the technical term -flower stems?? structure?? flowers were in tight clusters... old berries?? arch-y somewhat droopy-ish (there I go bein' technical again) branches from underneath.... not pretty, I know - just to give you an idea of how old she is - very "leggy"... reball kwoods suggested vibernum as well - the flowers remind me of vibernum?.... mid to late april she was at her peek (ny zone 6) - as you can see in the pics I took today - flowers are gone now (may 10). I found this image online (link below). seems a pretty close match to my above photo. unfortunately it's just listed simply as vibernum... http://members.tripod.com/mgrist/images/1024/flowers/vibernum.jpg knottyceltic omg... garlic mustard (shh! ... don't mention it's name - it'll start growing in this forum fer cryin' out loud!) I'm pretty sure this is my friend jewelweed - I have been pulling at/disgusted with garlic mustard for about 3 years now. The little seedlings (not only do I see them way too often during the day - but, these "things" have invaded my nighmares as well!) are more of a rosette(?) looking thing - sorta like violets. I have managed to put a kind of dent in it around most of the house. There are days I get very dis-heartened by the whole process as there are sections I haven't gotten to yet - but I WILL continue to fight the fight! I really don't mind jewelweed - I would imagine if I had a bunch of other things planted, I might pull some of it up. But i would much rather have the jewelweed than the garlic mustard growing. thanks all for the response(s) I'm still waiting for that woodpecker to come back for a visit. Here is a link that might be useful: