Sounds like an interesting garden, even if it's only in one's mind! I'm working a lot more natives into my gardens, and seeing a lot more beneficial insects, butterflies, a more interesting variety of birds, and now a hummingbird that seems to be a regular (I don't do "feeders", only attractive plants). Don't have a large lot, but do have a koi pond with a bog set under a huge white oak, surrounded with mountain laurel, chelone, tiarella, sassafras and some other things not so native; it was too shady for the cattails. Also have redbud, passiflora, native honeysuckle, great blue lobelia, ninebark, ... oh, my, now that I start thinking about it: sweet bay magnolia, amelanchier, leucothoe, aquilegia, ginger, river birch, carex, clethra alnifolia, fothergilla, dogwood (virginiana), redosier dogwood, swamp-pink, mayapple, inkberry holly, Virginia bluebells, Solomon's seal, sweet white violet, dicentra, ferns, moss ... who am I forgetting? Of course, it is not just what one has, but how it's put together ... and that's the part I'm working on now. But all have proven to be hardy and trouble-free (except that something has been eating holes in the leaves of the chelone and the swamp-pink requires certain conditions). Tulip poplar is a beautiful, stately tree; it's a shame we don't see more of them around, but I understand the limbs can be somewhat weak in storms. I've heard that horsetail can become invasive and know that trumpet vines will spread like crazy (as will the passiflora incarnata) if you don't keep after it. I understand there is (or was) a climbing fern (not far from some cypress like you mentioned) in a marshy, wooded area of a nearby county park. Meant to go searching for it in late winter/early spring, as it is evergreen, so it would have been easy to find it then. That would be a good candidate for such a garden - there's a link below with some photos and information. How about paw-paw? Yucca? (Though I'm not fond of them - too spiky, and they look like they belong in Arizona.) Orchids! - an ancient and widespread family; there are some native to the eastern temperate regions - nodding lady's tresses (spiranthes cernua) is one I would love to have. This could be too much fun. I look forward to seeing other recommendations. Thanks for starting this thread! (A dinosaur garden ... wouldn't children love that?) Here is a link that might be useful: Climbing (Hartford) Fern

As much as I would like to have the dilatatums, I think that I'll pass on it. I haven't seen any in my woods, but it doesn't mean that I should wait until I see it before I do something. I am battling enough invasives, and don't need any more. I have heard poor reviews about the FONA sale. Lack of variety, seeing the same things that are available at local nurseries, and the plants being overpriced. Haven't been to one. Should get a membership anyway - at least it will support a worthy cause. I am definitely going to the Green Spring sale this time around. Last time, there was a conflict with the Mid-Atlantic plant swap, and I couldn't go. I've been to the one at Blandy before, and was disappointed by the selections. Someone had listed other plant sales in the region - I'll check into it. Suja

Keep in mind that they will not grow to a specific predictable size and then remain frozen there; the sizes reached by trees and shrubs varies with how they are handled before planting and with how they respond to the specific conditions of a planting site. Trees and shrubs continue to grow larger until they enter a decline and die back or die. Viable specimens make new grow every year. Note also that Amelanchier canadensis is a loosely applied name in commerce with more than one other species being traded under the name. The true item is a vigorously suckering, comparatively short-growing species. Other species sold in its place tend to be more arborescent (tree-like). Most serviceberries are shrubby trees and may sucker or grow bushy under conditions promoting this habit more than a tall one. And some stock may be grafted on a different, more suckerous species than the one purchased (as a scion). For example, a 'Cumulus' I planted at a friend's place decades ago has grown into a tree maybe 20' tall with a clearly defined single trunk - fringed at the bottom by suckers of what appears to be western serviceberry rootstock that have never given up trying to form their own top. The viburnum, as you say can be grown as a small tree if trained into that shape. Otherwise it produces a typical viburnum clump of angular branches. If size is a concern select plants that do not grow into small trees or large shrubs. Stay completely out of that size group and you will not have to worry about something becoming 30' instead of 20' within your time on the site.

Sandy: Wonderful pictures. It's interesting to me that the Little Yellow, Phaon Crescent, and Dogface were all more strongly marked than ones I have seen. What time of year were those pictures taken? --- About those sterile cultivars: We have a tree around here, the Bradford Pear, that is a sterile import from China. However, it is also fragile. Branches fall off either in wind, or else in the spring when the branches are full of sap and flowers. We had one fall over in our yard (when the girls were outside ... yikes!). So, to remedy this, other sterile cultivars with improved strength were created to replace the Bradfords. BUT It turned out that the sterile cultivars could *cross-pollinate* the Bradford. The result is that Bradford hybrids are now escaping, and taking over, in the wild. Bummer, dude. (That's not a criticism of the Lantana; garden flowers are not much of a threat. Rather, I'm making a general observation about the quirks of sterility). Jeff