Ken: do you live in Adrian? I usually get my trees at Gee Farms if you are familiar with them. For anyone else, zone/conditions near Lansing, Mich. Soil has lots of clay and lots of 2" rocks that makes the digging tough. It used to be farmland (less than 10 yr ago); probably corn/wheat/soy rotation. I've never done a soil analysis. This is a continual plan; I mentioned a multi-year plan. I am planning on being here for the next ten years at least. I'm willing to start two trees at a time (that's what I have been doing). Small possibility of using some savings for a little larger arrangement ($1000). Otherwise a couple hundred (one tree will be a gift- under $100 for sure). My other trees have all been about $60 5-6'. I am trying to remind myself that I've read smaller grows better; I nearly bought a giant tree this summer for instant gratification. I will try again on the pictures- this is new for me. I don't usually post pictures or personal information. I thought it would show up as a link. I can't figure how to get the pic in the post. Can't copy and paste it. QQ: Yes, I would prefer a mix of interesting trees with varying colors and heights, not just three in a row. If I build a berm, don't I need to let it stand a season before planting trees in it? And I would bring in compost and cover with mulch for that? We're talking 5+ yards of dirt? 10? Were you suggesting all along the back line or back and side? I'm going to try and get out to get pictures of some things I like-and don't like- then head over to a tree farm. If you have specific suggestions of groupings I'd like to hear them. Here is a link that might be useful: Backyard

Browns occur in a wide range of shades from warm to cool and they need to complement each other or you might end up with a result that makes you vaguely dissatisfied with the overall effect. @raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio "Vaguely Dissatisfied" is spot on. I must have tried a forest's worth of flooring samples against my "golden" walnut cabinets and nothing looks right. Re your red oak, I wonder if there is a significant hue difference (or some other color difference) between red oak harvested 80 years ago versus modern day red oak. Because all the newish red oak floors I see seem to lean pink or red when unstained. @Patricia Colwell, I also LOVE natural walnut floors. I keep pondering that species as a way to distract from our "golden" walnut cabs, but DH prefers lighter over darker flooring. (Plus, the $$.) @lucky998877, thanks. Your floors sound lovely--and made to last! Good luck with your choice! Chandler, sorry for the hijack. Hope everything worked out great! :)

This is a great post and info, I am glad I came across it! I have Timborana hardwood floors that I've hated for years now. I love the wood grain, but I can't stand the color anymore... yes it's red, and it shows absolutely everything (foot prints, paw prints, hair, etc). I came across this post as I have been looking for a green undertone stain color. I am trying to figure out what to do. Those pieces are the back side of this flooring so it shows the natural color. On the right is the sample done by the flooring guy. This is the color that I really like, not too dark, not too light. This is a sample piece that my flooring guy sanded down and tried 4 different alternatives. I was shocked on how light it turned out. Not sure what the top color is, but I don't like it (too yellow). The second one I think is just the natural finishing coat. The third one has more white mixed with the finishing coat and the bottom one just a little white. I am really debating if I should go with one of those 3 options, there is such a difference in color between boards, I am not sure what it will look like. I am wondering if I should ask him for something a little darker, not sure if something like the picture above could be achieve in any way. Of course Timborana has a lot more wood grain. Any suggestions? and then I have to choose tiles to go beside the wood floor 🙄

Yes, I won the honey oak lottery! I have honey oak cabinets, baseboards, trim, doors, and windows. Right now I'm trying to figure out flooring for our bedroom so just dealing with the baseboard/trim, doors, and windows. I don't want to deal with painting everything. I'm considering swapping out baseboards to match the flooring but then I would have mismatched baseboards/trim and that might drive my crazy. (I just posted a question tonight asking folks to show pics of how they handled different baseboards/trims...hoping photos will help me make up my mind on that part.) I haven't started looking at samples a ton in person but am headed to the flooring store tomorrow. Here are screenshots of a few I'm thinking about (ignore the piles, work in process 😄). I can't decide if I should be trying to match the trim as close as I can or pick something that has some markings that match.