Tree Ideas

Help, I need some ideas.  Due to a recent windstorm, we are in the market for a
tree or two to provide shade for our koi pond.  We had an Aleppo pine that the
birds and squirrels loved that fell over and a Eucalyptus sideroxylon that split
in half and will be removed altogether.  The euc was in full bloom too with
beautiful pink poofies.  Sigh...

We would like to get two evergreen trees - one for each side of the pond.  To
keep in scale, the trees height should go to forty feet when fully grown.  We
want to buy as small a tree as possible that will provide some shade within
three years so moderate growth is good.  I'm leery of fast growers given recent
experience.  We discovered the pine's roots had girdled the rootball that
eventually led to the fall.

We have a medit climate yard with a Schinus molle in the middle of the backyard
with fruit trees (lemons, fig, persimmon, pomegranite) scattered around the
yard.  Salvias, Westringia, cistus, grasses, correa, geraniums, ceanothus,
lavenders, rosemary, a baby Chondropetalum tectorum, manzanita, and buddleias
fill out the plant palette.  We would like to get an evergreen that will fit
well with these.  We also are birders and want to provide food and shelter to
the birds if feasible.

My husband would like to replant the Aleppo pine which is OK unless something
else grabs his interest.  A friend is recommending an Acacia congesta as a
replacement for the E. sideroxylon.  It sounds good so far but I have three
questions.

- Is this particular acacia known to reseed readily?  I don't want to contribute
to unleashing an invader on the California landscape.

- Is the grown form of the acacia very similar to the form of the Schinus molle?
It seems that the appearance of the leaves/phyllodes are alike as is the
drooping habit of both.

- Does the acacia make a mess like the E. sideroxylon?  We hope to avoid
cleaning the pond so often.

Do you have any favorite trees that might work?  I'd love to get any ideas you
can toss my way.  Thanks.  The website will give you an idea of the yard as well
as tree damage.

Other trees we are looking at are:
Eucalyptus ficifolia
Other small and wide acacias
Bay - both kinds, although they appear too shrubby for our use.
Arbutus unedo (we have a small A. "Marina")

Cheers,
Bracey
San Jose CA
http://home.pacbell.net/tiede/
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