Posted by cav on September 13, 2004 at 06:03:21:
In Reply to: Re: so says the environmentalist posted by PS on September 12, 2004 at 12:33:23:
Check with laurie at FL Natives nursery on Livingston. She can give you good prices on trees and bushes. When I worked for the county we used her exclusively.
: : Live oaks are good, but there are also many other great trees that should be used more. I like elms and popash, and there's red maple, magnolia, cypress (bald and pond), black gum (tupelo), etc. I recommend taking a trip to the local native nursery near PS's house, tell them I sent you. They can hook you up with great plants at great prices.
: : Why diversify? It increases habitat value, and disease resistance, and it makes a much more interesting landscape. Beleive it or not, it was proven recently that live oaks forests are not a climax community, but a high stage transition associated with second growths. That means the ones i mentioned are ultimately sustainable in a natural setting.
: : And water oaks have their place, just not by your house.
: All true. I love magnolias and have two D.D.Blanchards I planted in my SSW back yard. I want more. I may replace the water oaks on the west side with magnolias. I have a loquat in back that is getting big now, a ligustrum on the front corner, a pittosporum on the other corner, three chinese elms on east side front ENE. No to mention "Everest," the Northern pine Judith gave us and the lavender crepe myrtle that is still small. Way too many bushes and flowers to mention; we have done some planting this year.