I love answering landscape questions.  Michelle Meilser, a client of Beds & Borders,  emailed yesterday asking which shade tree on the attached list would be the best to plant in her backyard.  The list came from the City of Minnetonka and it contained a grouping of very generic specimens that could be purchased at a great price from the forestry department.  I looked at the list and understood why the city would want to plant those certain species based on value, urban-toughness and fast growth rate.  What makes me question the list is the lack of thought from a city that values being unique and a leader in urban forestry.  There are some absolutely amazing trees missing from that list.  Take a look at the possibilities below and decide for yourself if you would like to have a standard park tree or if you would like to have a tree of interest and 4 season beauty; one that makes the neighbors say what is that and where did you get it!  Google these beauties.

• Cucumber Tree Magnolia – wonderful specimen at the Japanese Garden by Lake Harriet
• Accolade Elm – disease resistant
• Yellowwood – Wisteria-Like blooms
• Ginkgo – same today as when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
• Korean Mountain Ash – very underutilized
• ‘Twisty Baby’ Black Locust – wonderfully unique
• Tulip Tree – marginally hardy….nice specimens at the Arboretum
• Red Bud – A Linden Hills favorite
• Crimson Spire Oak – very columnar for tight spaces
• Sycamore – marginally hardy but great in protected area.  Hard to find.

I’d be glad to help you locate one.  Just email!

Andy