So update on the cedar. A sad day befell me last month. I had been battling an infestation of scales. I tried every technique i could find including picking off individual scales with tweezers. This took several hours. And after a repot to better draining soil and another plucking the stress became too much and it turned brown and faded away before my eyes. You will be missed

Wow, thanks for bumping your own thread sam. A quick google journey reading about the Pygmy Pine forest made me aware of this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudsonia_ericoides I would never have guessed we have our own Cistaceae on the US east coast! I want to try to cross it with one of my European ones! (I also think someone should try to cross Rhexia with Tibouchina LOL)

Yes, Quercus robur suffers from powdery mildew in all of the Eastern US(as do most all European Oaks), both North and South. But there is a lot of variability in how much each tree is affected, with some looking quite resistant to it. Trees in full sun with plenty of air circulation benefit and usually have much less powdery mildew. In all honesty, most Quercus robur planted in full sun mostly have the powdery mildew on their more interior leaves and it's not noticeable until you are quite close to the tree and happen to be paying attention to the leaves. misssherry, Although I don't grow Q. robur in the deep South, I have seen it growing in Houston, TX and looking more or less the same as it does up here in Eastern Kansas. beng, That is interesting, I didn't think anywhere along the East Coast had seen any real cold this winter yet. We've been between 20°F(-6.7°C) and 35°F(+1.7°C) for all of the past week. And last night was our coldest, with a low of 13°F(-10.6°C) and about 2"(5cm) of snow. Many of the Callery Pears and several English Oaks still have green leaves on them too. I'm sure most of these leaves will freeze off soon enough though.

Pinetree, What birds might be expected in a collage of conifers (all species of Pines, Spruces, "anything I can grow here successfully which is quite a chunk let's say" and the addition of shrubs bearing fruit specifically planted for the birds? I'm talking on six acres so plenty of room to congregate. Thanks! Dax I'll be 40 miles south of the Mississippi River from the city of Rock Island, IL? Somewhat near 'Loud Thunder State Park'... And I've been to the National Audobon Website, the Illinois State 'websites' for Birds... But I'm not well-versed in this subject, so if you can help, great. I already assume these: Bluebird Cardinal was told by locals that wild turkey will be there Pheasant for sure. Hawks - I don't know which ones. Sparrows - House Sparrow are everywhere in the US I think. Purple Finch are at my birdfeeder already. Red Headed Woodpecker and other Woodpecker I've. Don't know them well though. Beautiful birds though. I've also had a little bird blue in color that is notoriuous for 'running' down tree trunks. (I forget it's name). Never seen a goldfinch yet. Hummingbirds I've seen. Black Orioles are everywhere outside the city. I want/wish my yard to be screaming with the chirping of birds. Thanks again! Later. No pond... um... Lots of Blue Heron at Loud Thunder State Park though. Also, what Owl's might I expect. I saw one at Loud Thunder. Simply amazing. white underside with brown tips on the wings and more brown coloration on the tops! I know this is your specialty for certain areas of the world. Like I say, any info would be fun. See ya.