Nope, definitely not Euonymus europaeus. The berries weren't arranged or as numerous as on the photos I looked at of the euonymous. The leaves on this tree were thick and waxy, very glossy. I'm certain it was an evergreen. I'm sure it gets more beautiful in my memory as the time goes on :-) It probably was some type of holly. I don't think it was a Yaupon holly. The edges of the leaves seemed to be reflexed back. For all I know, it wouldn't grow in either PA or FL, so if I never ID it, I'll survive. But I do appreciate all the knowledge and guesses shared. Sorry I didn't take that photo! Marcia

Does anyone know if it's the same one that grows in the Southern states? I used to have one that I got from a roadside ditch in Georgia. I loved it and would like to get another one.

There is a mature 12 to 15 ft Ponderosa Lemon tree growing well about 4 miles from me. It produces loads of thick skinned navel style lemons, similar to Italian lemons, which I understand are even hardier and will grow here in Eastern North Carolina. 3 years ago the owner rooted over 100 cuttings, which he sold ready potted. I bought several at $5 a pot. These were 1 to 2 foot tall small trees, which is pretty good value. I kept one for myself and gave others as gifts and also work colleagues were paying for them. Unfortunately, I planted mine in an exposed area, open to the north wind and quite honestly didn't look after it like I should have. It died after 2 years. In the ensuing years I have driven past the mature lemon tree to have a gentle nose. Particularly in the winter. We have had temps around 20F and slightly below and yes it does it appear to have died back on some of the branches after such cold weather, but it springs back to life again come 'Spring'. It is semi-exposed to the weather, being behind the main house and in front or to one side of a shed. The owner doesn't dress the tree for frost protection and it seems it has to be 20F at least before die back occurs. I guess I know it's there and that i can always get another small tree from him, so I haven't bothered re-visiting the notion. Instead, I am growing an Owari Satsuma. It's been in the ground since March and doing well, of course it hasn't gone through winter yet. The Owari satsuma is a spindly specimen and nothing like the orange trees that we had in Arizona. I have planted this in a south facing location with staking and tying and with some degree of protection from the north wind, about 15 feet from the back of the house. Safer would have been directly against the back of the house, but then there's the house foundations to consider. Anyway, all I can say is that lemons and they are 'true' lemons are alive and well here in Eastern North Carolina, half way between Richlands and Jacksonville.

Could be a Talinum, which now apparently has a new name. We found these (mostly pink ones) on rocky outcrops on rescues, and I have also bought some. They appear to bloom around 3:00 standard time, which makes them a unique addition to the native garden. I planted mine in concrete containers and lots of permatil. With so much rain this year, they have bloomed only a little, but in previous years they bloomed a great deal...always in the later afternoon. Fun to watch! Here is a link that might be useful: Talinum info