Weissguy -

Sorry for the misunderstanding - I certainly CAN get white pines in NE and they are my favorite pine for several reasons and I will be planting many to serve as a shelter belt around my eventual homesite. [FYI - Huskers had over 80,000 pack in for Red White scrimmage - and you had your best attendance ever at 20k+ or so? Congrats - and I mean it. You have something special going down there - now if you could just teach those few really poorly behaved MU fans how to win with class I could actually come back down and enjoy a game or two...] ;- )

Kokopu -

Used to ski with many Kiwis when I "worked" in Breckenridge, CO [taking a two year break from college] and really enjoyed my time with them - great to hear a shout out from NZ on the forum. Further, thank you - you very capably educated me on the benefit of deciduous VS coniferous around the water...this is welcome news as Eastern Cottonwoods are prevalent in my neck of the woods and will spring up just about anywhere a trickle of water exists. They drop a ton of twigs and are very soft and due to be damaged in wind/storms/etc., but grow quickly and have essentially no disease or bug issues.

Eastern Cottonwood....besides sucking up a ton of water, anyone have any other trepadations regarding their service as wind shelter?

Thanks again gentlemen!

TJ

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

[Linked Image from i1261.photobucket.com]