We have done this similiar situation in Maine. The climates are not that dissimliar. We have a place 4 hours from where we live fulltime and have planted many trees and shrubs. The key here is to plant in the earliest of spring that you can. This will allow the plants to experience the shock of coming out of their pot or burlap with cooler and hopefully some damper weather that spring can bring. If you see a major drought coming, you would need to get there with some water and assist the plants through the dry weather. When you plant, add a good deal of peat to the mix. This will assist in moisture retention and be very helpful. The service berries will do very well and like dampness. You really cannot kill a chokecherry but they are not a frontline specimen plant. Ninebark like full sun and are very hardy. Wild roses will also need full sun to bloom properly. I would skip the ashes for the reasons mentioned above. River birch love damp soil and can grow very quickly. The maple trees will thrive here and grow large. They will sart off slowly and grow much more quickly after a couple of years. White pine are very fragile trees when larger and tend to break branches with when snow and rain come together as many storms do. They cannot take the weight and snap. They can also grow extremely large. Willow trees grow very quicky and love damp soil as well. You can plant all of these trees in the spring, and in your situation, plant them in the early spring so they can adapt before the really hot weather of summer. I cannot stress this enough in your situation. All of these plants will need some water should you get 2-3 weeks of drought in the summer. They will all be new and will not be able to survive if the drying gets too severe. Also, you can monitor the weather in your area to see how much rain your property is getting. With a little luck, you will get some rain and augment with some watering once in a while. These are tough plants that you have selected and will survive. Also, the first year will be the most difficult. After that, they will begin to thrive on your land. Goodluck.

Goosie, look into Crimean linden if its good golden fall color you seek. I actually downright hate littleleaf linden, which is what Greenspire is. A much too often planted tree with some real drawbacks. But Crimean is nice as can be. I don't recall cultivar names for that tree at the moment, but the googles will. I do not dislike 'Autumn Blaze' at all. I think them superior to most of the later Freeman maple offerings that have sprang up. Just one caveat but it's a biggie: You can't plant AB maples and then forget about them. Lots and lots of bad V-crotches will form. There is a technique for training young shade trees known as "subordination pruning". It is a fairly advanced concept and one which I will make no attempt to explain just now, but this is really essential for AB maple. I think it well worth it. I would say any sugar maple cultivar of northern provenance will suit your needs well. And while I don't usually say this, the sugar maple is such a common thing from top to bottom in our state that this may be a case where "digging one out of the woods" may be an attractive option, just because you could prejudge its fall color. If that ain't your style, no worries. Just get one of the ones you mention. +oM

@Jimmy_C may I say that it has been a real pleasure following this thread and seeing how your American Elm has grown over the past four years. In your most recent photo I can see it beginning to take on that distinctive vase shape that makes Ulmus Americana so uniquely majestic and delightful. Plus the little crook in the middle gives it character while it's a teenager! @HU-104914250 I am also located in Victoria and considering planting American Elms on my nature strip in Melbourne's South-West . I have been inspired by the images I've seen of elm-lined streets in America. Please let me know where you are planning to plant and whether you've been successful - I would like to stay in touch. I wish I could properly introduce this wonder to Victoria! I have only identified one tree nursery here which sells American elms - Established Trees dot com. http://www.establishedtrees.com.au/ Check out their catalogue. Only problem is that they're a wholesaler and so 'retail' prices might be too high. I also know that there are 3 American elms in the Botanical Gardens - though it wouldn't be legal to take cuttings....

Sherry, I've actually been there - last summer we were in the area and took a day to visit the arboretum. I loved it! We saw the Accolade elms, and read about them.... I think I'm pretty convinced now that's what we'll plant. I hadn't seen them for sale around here until last weekend. And then I was just worried about how many seeds they threw off and how they would be near the garden. I posted on the Trees Forum.... someone suggested I contact the Morton plant clinic, which I did. Bottom line- it should be a good tree for my site, apparently doesn't seed excessively. And now that I hear these encouraging comments from such good hosta gardeners.... I'm excited to think I could actually have an elm tree. I remember them from my childhood, lining the suburban streets - so stately and beautiful. If you're in that area, you'll know where Evanston is... that's where I grew up. Of course, I'll be long gone when it reaches its full height and maturity, but they are fairly fast growing, so it will hopefully get a bit of size while we can enjoy it.