The importance of shade trees to health

DR Horton can only do what the county and state allow them to do. Let’s put the blame on government that allows it. Government elected by the people.

 

Of course. We all live on land that was cleared and zoned at some point but the amount, rate and disregard for infrastructure that is happening now is off the charts. I'd like to see who is on the take for all of this rampant deforestation and growth. The sports boards have a couple members who live on LPGA Blvd, a two lane road that are directly dealing with the effects but the while eastern county is feeling it.

 

That's a pretty wide swale. Don't see that often anymore.
We recently visited friends out of state that don't even have sidewalks in most neighborhoods and when they do it's only on just one side of the street. Sucks for the moms/kids.

 

Good question. I've always thought of a canopy tree as a deciduous tree with widespread branches producing solid shade or allowing only dappled sunlight to shine through to the ground.

According to Piedmont Master Gardeners "a tree canopy is the layer of branches and leaves that 'cover the ground when viewed from above.' Tree canopies have many measurable benefits, for example reducing stormwater runoff and both gaseous and particulate pollution."

Canopy Trees | Piedmont Master Gardeners.
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Canopy Trees – Mostly Native Shade

Canopy trees define a forest more than anything else. The Northeastern forest is mostly deciduous. Trees drop their leaves in winter, and sunlight reaches the forest floor before the trees leaf out in late spring. This allows for spring ephemerals, which go dormant in late spring, to share the space on the forest floor with the trees above. It also allows for understory trees and shrubs to exist within the forest interior.
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Overhead shot of a forest canopy in a Queensland, Australia rainforest. Looks like broccoli.

 

Being transplanted from Florida to the high desert of western Colorado was an adjustment for someone who likes to garden. Over the years we had also lived in the northeast, the Chicago area, and Atlanta, but other than having to adjust planting schedules for frost, the plants were similar and recognizable.

Moving out here to live in the arid west meant learning a whole 'nother way to garden. Beginning with trees, there are relatively few varieties of native deciduous trees, but dozens of conifers. Our situation is unique. It is high desert, but Grand Junction is situated in a valley surrounded by 3 mountainous areas. The Grand Valley is the warmest spot in Colorado in the winter and we have little snow. Though I am told it snowed many more feet less than 20 years ago. The Colorado and Gunnison rivers converge in the valley and that no doubt contributes to the warmer winter temperatures. The valley is fertile, perhaps due to spring flooding for untold years. Now there are dikes and ditches and canals tapping the rivers and crossing the valley to irrigate the many fruit orchards, vineyards, and farm fields dotting the area.

Huge native cottonwoods grow along the river where there is room for them. And a few other smaller deciduous trees of unknown variety. Many other types of trees will grow here, but require a lot of water. It gets very hot in the summer but out in the Redlands district, away from the city of GJ where tall trees spread their canopies over sidewalks, most people are or are beginning to take xeriscaping seriously. Green lawns are disappearing as gravel and other stones take their place.

We have 2 deciduous trees, 12 arbor vitae, 3 mugo pines, and a fir of unknown variety in our yard. Only the deciduous trees - a flowering crab apple and another lovely tree with a five branched trunk of unknown variety require irrigation. When we moved in there was a Bradford pear in the front we ripped out and to plant the crab apple. And there was also a dying aspen that should never have been planted here in the valley. It's much too hot for them and they may only survive with massive amounts of water.

Yes, there is lots of cactus in the area. We have 6 growing in our back yard. Three claret cups that are in full bloom right now, a prickly pear that will likely bloom next week, and a cholla that will flower next month. Among the smaller soccer ball to basketball sized rocks I have collected and set into the ground I've planted 2 varieties of yuccas and a wide selection of succulents - sedums, ice plants, sempervivums, and echeverias. All are blooming right now and the color is gorgeous. Later in the summer the Russian sage will flower into large, impressive lavender mounds and the African daisies and sunflowers will bloom.

Though I was initially flummoxed about what to plant and how and when to plant, I tackled the steep learning curve and using local rocks and resources built a desert garden. In the late afternoon and evening I enjoy working in it. In the morning and afternoon we sit in the shade of the patio watching the territorial hummingbirds dive bomb each other while the lizards chase insects. Soon the toads will return to spawn in the pond and produce a delightful clutch of tadpoles, all the while the 9 BIG goldfish chase around through the rock tunnel and water lily plant.

Best of all - low to no noticeable humidity.

 

In sw FL it is oaks, black olive, magnolia, silver button wood, pigeon plumb, clusters of 3 or more palms, and one I can't think of right now. Buttonwood and pp are more of a big shrub but they create shade.
Municode has the landscape requirements for all the different muni and it varies by region.

 

Raleigh has done very well too.

 

We lost a 90 yr old pecan tree in a bad storm last year. Two previous lightning strikes had crippled the old girl. We have a few others that are younger, but the shade cast by that one in late afternoon was almost a half acre alone.

We have about 20 saplings from her fruit growing but will never see them reach her glory.

 

The trees in Florida have changed a lot over the years in many locations. I live in North Central Florida and many of the woods that are dominated by large live oaks and other trees were pine forest long ago. The pines were harvested to build homes and towns and the oaks grew in place of them in many areas. The state has cleared many of these areas now and replanted pines to restore the land and give habitat to the animals that depend on that type of forest.

 

Lost an oak in the last storm to lightning. One very nice shade tree. I always get angry with people who go out of their way to remove all of their shade trees and then complain their house is too hot in the summer.

 

There's something so pretty about a pecan grove. But we're seeing fewer of them in North Florida.

 

Our property is old farmland dating back but many native pecans took over throughout the years. We have two fairly mature ones, but probably only half the size of the massive one we lost. We also have a few that are in the 15-20 ft tall range and 15 saplings give or take that are only a couple years old.

The saplings start out around the house in the landscaping (thanks to squirrels hiding pecans) and we move them to other places once they have a year under their belt.

 

You are absolutely correct! I’ve been observing county commissions in Florida for over 60 years. There is zero doubt in my mind that a goodly number of them have been on the dole. Corruption has been as rampant here as in any other country on the planet.