Here's a map of the yard to date. I don't have the measurements between the trees yet so the circles are just generalizations. There may yet be some moving and removing of a tree or two and possible an addition or two.

ok.. the cammo burlap cracked me up ... lol.. ken

Z2 might be a challenge even for a sugar maple -- is it from a local source? .

if cammo hides a hunter... i hope some deer doesnt trip over the contraption.. and crush your plant with its body .. lol ...

ken

sorry guys, but I'm having an awful time posting on this forum last night and today. My pictures aren't showing up and now I just deleted my response to beng and ken.

beng12 said: 'Z2 might be a challenge even for a sugar maple -- is it from a local source? '

beng, My zone is actually usda 3, I typo'd my screen name and by the time I noticed, I can't change it. The Acer saccharum was given to me by a friend that has land several miles east of my place, that grows these kinds of trees. So its a woods dug that I moved here Sept 10. With the nice fall and snow cover, I hope it makes it.

'ok.. the cammo burlap cracked me up ... lol.. ken'

I looked for Tsuga specific burlap but it was hard to find. maybe winter camo would've been better. :-)

'if cammo hides a hunter... i hope some deer doesnt trip over the contraption.. and crush your plant with its body .. lol ...'

oh funny! ya know, Camo is a lot like fishing lures, they're designed to catch the fisherman, not the fish. Same for camo. Deer are basically color blind and can't tell the difference between blaze orange and green. They distinguish things more by shape and movement and of course their sense of smell.

Anyways back on topic: Here's the Acer saccharum. It's almost 7 ft tall with a 3/4" dia. trunk above the root flare. Not a perfect specimen by any means but the price was right.

Some branch tips. I had to use a magnifying glass to see the 'scales' on the buds so I was a little confused if there was something wrong with them. Thought maybe the tree wasn't in the ground long enough to harden off. But they look a lot like web pictures I looked at so hopefully they're fine. I suppose my neighbors think I'm crazy when they see me outside in -2dF with a camera and magnifying glass. :-))

I just want to say thanks for every ones patience with me. I've been learning a lot about the Minnesota common trees, that I'm really new to, because I didn't plant them on my old place, which was really sandy/poor soil.

Next spring I plan to expand the usage of mulch around here, and watch if the fertilizer, I put on some of the trees last summer, makes any difference.

Keep up the good work, Bill! Every tree you plant blocks a little of my wind!

The snow is now deep enough where it is difficult to walk through. To make matters worse, we're into our second long cold snap and cabin fever is starting to take hold. Over the past few years I've resorted to blowing out paths so I can get around a bit easier and take a look at the trees & shrubs. It's therapeutic, but a leisurely garden stroll it is not.

I planted this Magnolia virginiana 'Ned's Northern Belle' this past year, which is my one and only broadleaf evergreen tree. I really didn't think the foliage would hold up after the first cold snap, which had lows of -20F and highs of -8 a few days. It's looking a bit tattered, but hanging in there. Any other northern gardeners using this tree?

I see the deer were curiously following your tracks, probably in the dark of night!

The final test will be how the plant acts after the sap starts to flow again. And it can make a difference whether or not the weather goes right from winter to spring or if temps bounce back & forth from warm to freezing cold for several weeks. Pontentilla is a safer bet in my area. :)

"Keep up the good work, Bill! Every tree you plant blocks a little of my wind!"

We have had more than our share of wind this year. There are parts of the yard that were swept clean of snow, esp. around the structures for some reason.

But we had less snow, the last couple of years, all winter, than even the thinnest snow pack areas this year and things came back okay, so am keeping my fingers crossed. The old saying goes, if it blows at your place, it must suck someplace else. :-)) j/k

Yeah, the paths are like a deer expressway. The path of least resistance...

This is a good winter to test something marginally hardy like M. v. It supposedly has survived temps to -30F, so I'm somewhat optimistic it will make it without too much damage. I sure hope so because I could get used to seeing (and smelling) the flowers.

I'm jealous. We noticed Magnolias and Crepe Myrtle a couple of years ago, we were vacationing in Memphis and then wandered into Mississippi for the day. Like most anything I see down south, I've just consigned myself to the fact that it won't survive around here. Or will survive for few years until we have an old fashion winter again. Hope it does work out for you.