Saltcedar -- bingo! That's certainly it... and though I'm happy to learn it's a native here in New England, I'm worried about my cat, who is infatuated with the stuff and ingested a leaf (and perhaps another half) of my cutting last night when I wasn't looking. She seems okay today and I'm guessing we'd be seeing symptoms by now if she weren't, but I'm still worried -- it doesn't sound like a plant I want to have hanging around the edges of my yard. VERY glad to know what it is -- many thanks! (Does anyone know HOW toxic it is??)

How about Bridal Vail Spirea? I've been noticing them and admiring them this week. Lisa Here is a link that might be useful: Bridal Vail Spirea

I like my Elaeagnus ebbingei, Silverberry. Description from Forest Farm- http://71.18.156.27/search/closeup.asp?PlantID=eleb037 The grey-grn leaves of this 9'shrub are silvery below & speckled with silvery scales above, making them sparkle in sun; EG in milder climates.S-PSh/M Leaf Retention : Semi Evergreen Growth: Medium growth Uses: Fra,Hon,B&W Hardiness : -10 to 0F Habit: rounded Mine is over my head. It is always attractive but might need to be cut back a little. It has flowers that waft fragrance and can have edible berries but I haven't seen any on mine. I did see some on one in Seattle. If it didn't have to be evergreen I would grow Aronia. It is also tough and vigorous, dense, and bears very healthful berries in clusters that ripen all at the same time to make harvesting a dream. I have Viking. A 100 ft row of it would be a lot of fruit! I understand it is a crop that will be in demand, though. Here's another evergreen I just bought this year in a band so I can't really say much about it yet- http://71.18.156.27/search/closeup.asp?PlantID=ilhe103 Illicium henryi CHINESE ANISE SHRUB EG Description : An uncommon & attractive med-sized shrub with glossy leathery leaves & pink to bright rose-colored flowers which are fragrant.S/M/acid with some peat Leaf Retention : Evergreen Growth: Medium growth Uses: Fra lvs Hardiness : -10 to 0F Origin: W.China And another species from which comes Star Anise- http://71.18.156.27/search/closeup.asp?PlantID=ilan100 Illicium anisatum Description : Part of a "small group of outstanding EGs with unusual, many-petalled flowers, this medium-large aromatic shrub" (Hillier) has thick glossy leaves and yellow flowers to 1" across. Sun-Psh/Med Leaf Retention : Evergreen Growth: Medium growth Uses: Fra lvs Hardiness : -10 to 0F Origin: Japan

Well, I took these fairly early Sunday morning. Sad to say, my mind was in the gutter. Really. The good old panhandle wind was knocking alot of blooms off four trees (redbud or crabapple?) in their prime and sweeping them gently over to the curb where a little water was running. The curb was just jam full of all these blossoms. I thought to myself, no sense in letting all that color go to waste. And, like ya'll say, I couldn't have lined them up like that myself if I had tried. I guess "pretty" is where you find it. ;)