Re: favorite shade tree

Jan,
I agree it is a most beautiful tree, but I speak from
experience when I say the mess is not inconsequential.
 I made the mistake of planting one right outside my
front door, and both the fruit and fallen flowers are
tracked into the house over a 6 month period each
year.  I am torn between removing the now quite large
tree and adding a clear covered extension over the
front steps to try and minimize the mess.  This tree
should only be planted where the constant droppings
aren't a potential problem.  Also, it is constantly
attacked by thrips here in my Berkeley garden, yet
still is a thing of beauty.  Also, I wouldn't say that
the growth rate is slow to moderate in all situations,
my tree can put on 3 foot of new growth each year.  I
have also heard from people in England which probably
gets much stronger winds in winter storms, that it is
often subject to blowing over in storms.

As to favorite shade trees, to shade a path, I'd
probably vote for Mayten tree for its grace, Ginkgo
for its fall beauty, or Honey Locust for the light
shade cast and beauty.  Of course it also depends on
the time of year you ask this question, who can resist
Magnolia denudata in full bloom?  If climate is not an
issue, I'd vote for a mango tree; as large as a Valley
Oak, home to 1000's of epiphytes, delicious fruit and
such colorful new foliage with each growth spurt.  To
see whole avenues with 100 foot tall by wide Mango
trees completely shading the streets in Manaus, Brazil
is an impressive site that I still remember almost 30
years later.


--- Jan Smithen <jsmithen@earthlink.net> wrote:

> My favorite shade tree this year ( it changes!) is
> Arbutus 'Marina' for it's
> beautiful growth habit, really wonderful red-brown
> bark, fall and winter
> clusters of pink flowers and strawberry-like fruit.
> Then there's the fact of it's adaptability to many
> garden situations, wind,
> soil, climate AND it's slow to moderate growth. The
> fruits do drop, but that
> is a small price to pay for one great tree.
> If I were starting my garden over, that's the tree
> I'd choose!
> 
> 
> On 11/19/04 6:50 AM, Talkingpoints@PlantSoup.Com
> wrote
> 
> Do you mean of all time?  Or the neatest, or the
> best for lawns and parks,
> or favorite Medit plant?
>  
> If we are just talking favorite big shady tree, I
> think the valley oak, in
> maturity is the most beautiful, picturesque tree. 
> Quercus lobata nee
> But that's just me.
> 
> I mean a year-round tree to shade a pathway, not to
> grden beneath.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 



		
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