Well, here I am already with my third post! lol

I'm trying to decide on a tree to replace the silver maple we had to take down last year. I originally wanted a mimosa becasue of the lovely umbrella effect but I think it might be too tall for my postage-stamp yard. Besides, a lot of clean-up, from what I've read. So I think it's come down to a white flowering dogwood or a Japanese maple.

I love all three trees, though, so I'm having a hard time deciding. Trying to make this decision has been a good diversion for me from family problems...researching, reading, checking out trees in the neighbohood...only I've read that the fall is a good time to plant Japanese maples so I need to decide!

Any opinions or experience anyone wants to share?

Jo

Have you though of getting a Japanese Quince tree. In the summer, they produce little quince pears. Really very nice;

Japanese Quince

* * * *
always in search of a champagne colored Hibiscus.

Wow! Thanks for the suggestions. They started me on an odyssey of learning about trees. Originally I was only considering the dogwood or Japanese maple because I didn't think there were any other tress small enough but now I'm putting off the decision until at least spring because I really had no idea there were so many different kinds of trees that would work here.

Sorry about forgetting the conditons of the location --

It's zone 7a with clay soil and on the southwest side of the house. Our lot is only 50' wide and there is a driveway on one side and the silver maple on the other side. It's in morning sun for about 5-6 hours and shaded the rest of the day. It's protected from heavy wind. I don't know the ph of the soil.

After talking more with my husband about what we want there, we think a tree about 25-35 feet tall with a spread of about the same. We don't want it as tall as the old silver maple but we would like as much of the shade back! lol

Jo