[Arid_gardener] Trees for White Mountains Area

[Olin Miller]

I can't make a specific recommendation but I suggest the book

 "Beyond the Ponderosa: Successful Landscape Trees for Higher Elevations in 
the Southwest." 1998. by T. DeGomez and J. D. Bailey (Eds.) 1998. Flagstaff 
Community Tree Board, Flagstaff, Arizona, ph. 928-779-7621.

 "Beyond the Ponderosa" contains excellent photos of over three dozen mature 
tree as well photos of any fruit or flowers, foliage, and bark.  I don't 
know where you csn still buy the book but you could ask about availability 
of the book and also get expert advice at the Tree Board's office in 
Flagstaff or at the Coconino County Extension office - see

http://ag.arizona.edu/extension/directory/counties/coconino.html

or the Navajo County Extension office - directory at

http://cals.arizona.edu/extension/directory/counties/navajo.html

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
============================================

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <lawson at xwinds.com>
To: <arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu>
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 3:53 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Trees for White Mountains Area


> Hello,
>
> I have a summer home in a small, older community in Navajo County, in  the 
> White Mountains, very near Show Low Lake. We have a 10-acre common  area 
> at the back of our community that borders what was once open  forested 
> land. Recently developers have bought that land and are  building large 
> vacation homes there, some of them right up next to the  property line of 
> our beautiful, open, common area. Naturally these  homes' occupants are 
> going to enjoy the view of our mountain meadow  common area, but we who 
> live on the other side of the property line  will now have our view 
> spoiled and will be looking at the sides of  their McMansions!
>
> My question is: what type of trees can we (the community residents)  plant 
> in this common meadow area along the property line that will  grow to form 
> a screen that blocks these vacation homes from our sight?
> We want to plant something that is native to the area, is firewise,  and 
> won't require a whole lot of water. Full sun to partial shade,  elevation 
> is 6 to 7,000. It would be great if it was fast-growing too,  but we 
> realize that is unlikely. Most of the other trees in our  community are 
> well-established Ponderosas and other evergreen trees.
>
> Someone has suggested Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa) as the  fastest 
> growing tree in the world, but I have also read that it is an  invasive 
> species and am not sure it is a good idea. Have you heard of  this tree 
> growing in Northern AZ?
>
> Thank you very much for any suggestions and/or guidance you can provide!