[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by sunnyatlast

Regarding the two phrases highlighted in red above:

1. Obviously you haven't lived with one of these florida oaks shading your driveway, yard and/or house. Contrary to your phrase implying these florida oaks drop leaves only in the fall, their leaves and gazzilions of tiny acorns that rot quickly do not "fall in the fall". They fall for 7-8 months, from about July thru March!!

Unless you sweep and wash the driveway and sidewalk up to the front door every day, all the black/brown filth and rot from the leaves, tiny sticks and acorns get walked into the house or garage on shoe soles, and not everybody (especially seniors with physical problems) wants to go thru removing their shoes every time they walk into the house or garage. It is a constant mess to clean up to not have it tracked in and dirty or stain the rugs and floors.

2. "Many residents have moved here from the north and west" and came specifically to enjoy greenery all year long, instead of everything looking dead and naked from Sept. thru April. Palms are a daily reminder that we're not living in the cold, grey, frozen, dead-looking north as we did for decades since birth. The graceful, whispering palms outside are a joy to look at and they're what I "write home about" most.

Originally Posted by Bonny

Not too mention that stuff all over the car for those that have a car in the driveway, all over the roof & in the eaves !!! Even if you put screening on the eaves, it still all has to be cleaned off. Too much like work.

Live oaks should not be planted close to a driveway so why would you compare planting one in the same breath as planting one to shade a house??? If you plant it by your driveway, you deserve any staining you get. In all the years I have lived in Florida, I always had at least one live oak. They are magnificent trees! Your exaggerations of their leaves and acorns and of "seniors with physical problems" (where did that come from??!?) tracking dirt into their house is laughable.

It's funny, but palms do not remind anyone of what you are trying to describe when the temperature is in the 30s and 40s. By the way, you also get the exact same staining from palm seeds.

I really don't believe that people have moved to The Villages "specifically to enjoy greenery all year long," when you obviously are referring to oak trees shedding their leaves. That's a little dramatic particularly when practically all plants and shrubs are green all year long, as are many grasses.

Bonny: "Screening on the eaves"? Not sure what you mean by that. I've never seen screening on the eaves of houses.