Light intensity is the important factor, not the total amount of light. A 100W domestic lightbulb is quite "bright" in a closet but pretty insignificant in a football stadium. So a 400W metal halide will burn any plant, low light or full sun lover, if you place it too close. The same 400W metal halide will not keep even the deepest shade lover alive if you place it too far away and spread out the light too much.

One day I was looking for a place to tie my 70 pound mix up outside the Office Depot. The cashier motioned to me to bring him inside. So for about 18 months we both went in the store instead of just me. He never let out a peep, just slowly wagged his tail, usually got petted by the dog friendly customers and employees. One time as we waited in line to check out, the person ahead let out a shriek that everyone in the store heard. The dog did not react at all. The next time we went in the store manager said dogs were not allowed unless they were special needs dogs. I did not get upset with the store, maybe they changed their animal policy (and maybe they didn't have one). But I noticed with some amusement that while the dog was calm outside the store before; after his inside visits he barked at most people who went into the store while he had to wait outside. Seems like most folks who want to pet dogs don't know how to safely pet one (IMHO). I try to get the neighborhood kids to learn properly how to pet older dogs, but the folks at the nearby Petco just bend over and pet dogs like the average person does.

There are clematis, climbing roses and grapes. I found a 5 year old Denver Post article on other vines for Colorado. The site will block you without a subscription, so I've copied the body of the article: If you’re looking to find privacy in the yard, but can’t wait until those trees grow taller, add vines to bring your garden to new heights. These weaving wonders make themselves at home scrambling over hillsides, trellises, and stone walls, covering bare ground or screening out unwanted scenes of the neighbor’s Winnebago. Sprucing up your landscape’s look is easy with vines. Just ask John Murgel, horticulture coordinator for the Denver Zoo. Transforming enclosures to evoke the atmosphere of exotic locales is a strategy the zoo uses to enhance the comfort of the animals and enthrall visitors. “We use temperate climate vines to evoke a tropical feeling, those that are hardy,” he said. “Some go up trees into the canopy, others over walls.” But there are a few guidelines for home gardeners. “Use them carefully so they don’t get out of control,” Murgel said. “You must consider if the vine suckers or how large it grows,” or it could become a handful. “You’d be hoping for an elegant little vine but end up not being able to find your shed anymore.” Know what the vine climbs on and how the plant grows so that you can choose the correct support for it. You need to know that vining plants have several ways of gripping trellises. Those that twine around their frameworks need a little help getting the idea. While they’re young, gently loop the leaders around cables or latticework to train them. Vines that use tendrils to clasp their supports — you’ve likely seen this happen with edible plants such as cucumbers — don’t need help finding a structure to grip. The trick is to keep them from throttling everything within their grasp. Encourage them to find the trellis by twirling tendrils and shoots about the frame. Plants that grow their own suction cups and those with adventitious roots — a word for roots that grow along stems — need walls or fences with texture to climb. But be careful: Though such vines look good on houses, they can be damaging. Here are five great vines to grow in Colorado beyond the usual clematis, climbing roses and grapevines. 1. Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata). Showy, purple flowers get hummingbirds to hang around your garden, happily visiting the blooms covering the vine. The lobed, deep green leaves provide a backdrop that makes the flowers pop. Size: To 25 feet long Zone: 5a How: Plant in a protected site, mulching thickly to protect the roots while the top dies down to the ground during the winter. Passion flower spreads via roots, so if you’d like to contain it, plant in a large container and move it into the garage for the winter. 2. Five-leafed Akebia (Akebia quinata). Delicate leaves made up of five-leaflets make this an unusual vine for jazzing up your landscape. The lightly scented flowers hang in pendulous clumps. Size: 20 feet long or more Zone: 5a How: Pop this climber in full sun to light shade; it won’t fruit here, says Murgel. But it will ramble up a tree, so periodically loosen it to ensure that it doesn’t girdle branches. 3. Honeysuckle (Lonicera species) is a favorite of Murgels’, since they’re showy all summer and attract hummingbirds. Look for the Blanche Sandman variety, a showstopper wreathed in pink-orange blossoms with golden throats. Size: 20 feet Zone: 5a How: Full sun, even moisture and something to climb are all that it takes to grow Blanche Sandman. Once established, keep it tidy by an occasional light pruning after the danger of hard frost has passed. 4. Wisteria (Wisteria). Classic, elegant wisteria (Wisteria species) drapes deep purple flowers on a woody, long-lived vine. Perfumed and showy, wisteria needs permanent support, such as a dramatic arbor or doorway arch. Size: 30 feet Zone: 5 How to grow: Because the flower buds swell early, put wisteria in a protected location to keep late frosts from nipping blossoms. Once established, prune them twice per year: a light pruning in midsummer to remove wispy growth and a hard pruning back to two buds per branch in winter. Don’t let them dry out. 5. Silver Lace Vine (Polygonum aubertii). If you have a large area that needs screening quickly, try this rampant, sweet- smelling vine. The sprays of white blossoms that coat the plant from summer to fall reach to 6 inches long. Size: 20 to 30 feet Zone: 5 How: Give this plant a sturdy support in a carefully chosen area, as it can easily swallow small arbors or trellises.

how many days a year is the area INUNDATED with water ... if its for a few hours after a deluge.. then i dont see any reason to pick a tree that is tolerant to water ... and why doesnt it drain away.;.. if its due to heavy clay soil.. then all you need to do is plant it properly.. so it can cope with the situation.. and put its roots where it wants them ... its called planting high ..... and you dont pick a tree based on the dog... buy the tree you want or need..and then protect it from the dog.. until its bark matures enough that doggy teeth arent an issue ... and in the mean time train the dog to leave you plants alone.... and stay out of the garden ... include big city name in every post.. it usually helps when discussing plants for your area .. min winter temp.. zone.. is not relevant ... per se.. in and of itself .... shall we presume iowa based on forum selection?? and to that info.. what zone ... 5???? oak is my favorite tree.. and is rather fast growing.. for the quality you want .. NEVER buy or plant a tree that is marketed as FAST GROWING... fast to size.. fast to disease.. fast to falling apart in the next ice storm .... plant trees that last 100 or more years... like oaks... ken