kerrican2001(z9b CA), nonaberrie(sf bay area), sandylighthouse(7), fruithack, teajm_yahoo_com Can you tell me more about fig trees? Ive never noticed them up here in the SF Bay as much as I did in Venice/Santa Monica in LA. Which varieties do well here? Do they grow tall? Can they be pruned so that they grow tall and stay narrow? I have a small front yard that is mandated to have a tree and I just cut down our existing one and am considering putting in a fig tree on both sides of the driveway. ( I started a separate thread in this subforum for it as well)

"The reason to remove the soil was so that the drainage and moisture retention would be consistant throughout the medium. The concern was that a mass of dense potting soil would not get wet enough (or would possibly stay too wet), as the water rushed through the faster draining CHCs or bark mix surrounding the old root ball/soil mass. But, with all the repotting I've done, I've seen that the roots naturally reach out, grow through and surround all the CHCs/bark with astounding speed. So the possible watering problem (by not removing old soil) has *not* manifested itself. The plant fills the new pot rapidly with healthy roots and gets nourishment and moisture easily. " Lisa: we are in sync of the reasoning why I have not done so removing the soil of the old pot. I believe that the citrus roots will seek out the moisture/water for survival so if the water is in the new sorrounding CHC mixture the plant will send out new roots to seek where the water is in a hurry. So in no time you have a tremendous new roots going everywhere for water search. I believe the plant can sense where the water is. A case in point- roots imbedded in the sewer joints inside the pipe. Also I've seen roots that travel 5 to 8 times its height.

Grandma, I'd love a Peach tree in my yard instead of this darn maple that shades yard in summer, tosses seeds everywhere so I'm always plucking baby maples, and in fall throws leaves everywhere, and I mean everywhere.. There are peach trees hardy to my zone if if the maple ever goes a peach tree will be there..I also have a small smoke tree I keep pruned. An orange tree shouldn't be anymore difficult than your Ponderosa. They do require more warmth in winter, but living in Tx you can get by. What type of orange are u thinking of getting? small like Calamondins, or large like navels? I know you can't recieve plants from Fl, but take a look at www.harriscitrus.com and check out their trees to get an idea what you'd be interested in..they've got quite a fw pictures. I'd love to see a pic of your red camillia. HOw about a fragrant hibiscus? I don't know how much scent thry throw out, probably about as much as your camillia. I have 2 roses, but not an expert on growting them either. One is an old-fashioned, I'll post a pic. It's very old, was here when we bought the house. The flowers are super fragrant, but after a first rain or strong winds, most of the flowers drop. What zone do u live in? Toni Here is a link that might be useful: RE: Ponderosa Lemon Fruiting in Winter?

Having grown up in the South, I feel that the pines there look roughly like the Eastern White pines so prevalent here. I would try growing a southern magnolia here before I would a pine. I think the evergreen envy would be more common in the South. They cannot for instance grow blue spruces in most places there. If you want to push the envelope with an evergreen that's truly different then try a monkey puzzle tree which is common in England. Nothing like a tree full of razors to get the neighbors talking. I think the South has more shrubs and small trees that are marginally hardy here that would be of more interest. Crape myrtles, camellias, gardenias, sweet olive, and others would be a delight here with their flowers and fragrance. Some would of course have to be grown in pots that are protected in some way in the winter.