White Birch are not a drought tolerant tree, so if you are losing junipers to dry soil then you probably shouldn't count on a birch doing well. Limestone rock means that your soil ph may be on the alkaline side, and this doesn't mean that your soil is poisonous, but you should avoid trees/plants that like a more acidic or neutral soil. If you want to be more certain of what your soil type actually is, go to a local nursery or garden/hardware store and get yourself a simple soil testing ph kit. An Eastern Redbud is probably more flexible about soil type, but will still need some watering the first couple of seasons if you get regular prolonged periods without rain, and you don't have much depth of soil over the rock. You might also check out some other flowering trees such as Chionanthus, and I am not sure whether Crepe Myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica or L. fauriei would be hardy in your area. I bet there are some on line resources for West Virginia such as your local agricultural extension office, or a master gardener's group, that could point you in the right direction for best trees for your area. If you really want the birch, plant them somewhere with moister soil and access to water, as they like to grow near water/creeks.

Just 'cause the swap is nearly here--these are my wants!! I have a lot of haves. Check them out! -ANYTHING FOR SHADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -Foamflower, any type -Hellebores, any -Primula japonica (any tall candelabra Primroses) -columbines -BOSTON Ivy -Serviceberry bush -Hostas, any type--but esp. BLUE or BIG leaf -Bloodroot -Trillium, any -Bergenia, any -Super Petunia, Wave petunia -Astilbe, any type -Goats Beard -Brunnera, any type -Spice Bush (Allspice) -Pieris -Aucuba -Ilex, any verigated type, or highly fruiting -Black eyed susan vine -White Echinacea -mountain bluet -hydrangea, oakleaf, bigleaf, or any -Japanese painted ferns -Solomon Seal -Azaleas!!!! -Rhododendrons (esp. native species) -corydalis -shade geranium -polemonium -Lamium -foxglove -Japanese anenome -Woodland poppies -Camelias -Dicentra (any) -Hecuchera -Yellow or pink Canna Lilies -Climbing Hydrangea -Clematis -Heirloom Tomatoes -Black rapsberries -Fig Trees -Alpine Strawberries IÂm open to almost anything!!

Andyandy, I posted some comments about that same palm in another Gardenweb discussion (see link). I've never seen it personally but I've seen many photos and know the guy who originally planted it back in 1994 (he no longer owns the house and a new owner is taking care of it). The short answer is that nobody knows exactly what temperatures it's experienced, or for what duration. The nearest airport (Dulles) has recorded subzero temperaratures at least two or three times since the palm was planted, and I assume Sterling would have similar temperatures, but it's planted right up against a house in a very sheltered location; he told me that he doesn't remember the temperature at his house ever actually going below zero even on the coldest days, but I'm not sure if he ever took actual measurements with a reliable thermometer. Windmills palms HAVE been documented to survive below-zero temperatures in other locations, but the survivors are generally large, well-established plants, growing in climates where such temperatures are extremely rare, and always suffer extreme damage. Regarding the palms planted in front of the Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC, I was checking some old Gardenweb discussions and saw claims that they were planted in the late 1980's (in which case they would have survived the extreme 1993-1994 winter, the last time temperatures in the city went below zero). This is not accurate; they were actually planted in the early 2000's but they are still impressive and worth checking out if you ever visit. Here is a link that might be useful: Trachycarpus fortunei discussion

The Invisible One is finally reporting in. After last SundayÂs gathering, The Bug got me down, eliminating my ability to say anything the least bit witty, not that I could have matched the others at that, anyway. DH and I enjoyed everyoneÂs company immensely. It was wonderful to dine among GW celebrities Igloochic (the delightful, devoted mother of adorable Jesse -- I hope he is doing much better), Buehl (who I later realized is the Kitchen Forum FAQ compiler/poster), and cooperbailey (with whom I had several things in common). It would be fun to meet more GW folks, whenever and wherever. We are in Towson, MD, so I expect weÂll be headed south when it happens. Some have pronounced our kitchen "finished." Now, we all know that "done" is a relative term. I hastily took some pictures of our kitchen before last weekÂs dinner meeting, and the only thing really missing is a window treatment. However, I need to straighten up the counters, find the best angles, and gather all the spec details before preserving our kitchen for posterity in the Finished Kitchens Blog. That new project is definitely on my Someday List  another relative term. :-) Alice