Re: Favorite Shade Tree

Linda,
Arbutus menziesii is available from northern
California wholesale growers such as Suncrest Nursery
in Watsonville.  They are touchy to grow from
containers, however, so I'd recommend the much easier
to grow but otherwise similar in appearance, A.
'Marina'.

Regarding Hawthorne Trees, Crataegus phaenopyrum has
always been the one Hawthorne tree that most appealed
to me; no thorns or congested branching, and beautiful
fruit and fall color.

It is funny how people either love or hate Magnolia
grandiflora.  I have had just as many design clients
resent the deep shade, surface rooting and constant
litter of leaves that just do not decompose readily. 
Not an easy tree to garden under, and fragrance is not
all that noticeable in cooler climates such as here in
the San Francisco Bay Area.
--- Linda Starr <mtnstar@ocsnet.net> wrote:

> Since you asked, any oak tree used to be my favorite
> tree, but then I discovered there are so many other
> trees that provide shade.  When I lived in
> Foresthill we had Arbutus menzeisii, Pacific madrone
> trees, growing on our property.  We had a huge
> madrone in our side yard and the former homeowners
> built a treehouse within its branches but not
> attached (which I thought was very considerate of
> them for the tree's sake).  The madrone quickly
> became another favorite tree of mine since it has
> much to offer at every season:  a broadleaf
> evergreen which looks good in winter when other
> trees have lost their leaves, the madrone trees
> often grow multi-trunked with branches curving
> upward rather than growing with a central leader,
> there are drooping white flowers in spring and
> orange/red berries in fall and winter and peeling
> orange bark which is quite spectacular throughout
> the year.  I wish I could find a source for one of
> these trees in a 5 gallon size, even a Texas or
> Arizona variety would do.
> 
> Southern magnolia is another broadleaf evergreen I
> came to appreciate when we lived in the South.  We
> had one growing in our yard in Arkansas and the
> fragrance of the blossoms permeated the air in the
> summer.  I finally realized why so many people
> profess to love the magnolia.
> 
> A tree I have always wanted to grow is the
> Crataegus, or hawthorne.  In fact, I just purchased
> one today to plant in my yard.  A neighbor years ago
> had a Hawthorne growing in his yard and it grew into
> a perfectly symmetrical shape and provided dense
> shade, had an unusual leaf shape, pink flowers in
> spring, berries in fall and good fall color.
> 
> Another tree I consider as a favorite, although I
> have never grown it, is the crabapple.  I have fond
> memories of crabapple trees growing in Maryland
> where we lived when I was a child.  I can recall
> masses of pink flowers covering the trees in spring.
>  I also remember climbing the crabapple trees and
> picking and eating the tart fruit in the fall.
> 
> There are probably other favorite shade trees, but
> these are the ones that stand out at this time.
> 
> Linda Starr
> Springville Gardens



		
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