"JohnR66" writes:

"Dan Espen" wrote in message
...
"JohnR66" writes:

I'm looking for a medium large shade tree for my back yard. I am in SW
Ohio
and prefer a tree that doesn't make a mess (other than the leaves) and is
trouble free to grow. My back yard is devoid of vegitation, so this tree
would get full sunlight. The back yard is 75 x 60 feet and the tree would
be
near the middle. I would like to start from a seed. I looked on a tree
website and there is a vast amount of possiblilities that I'd like to
narrow
down. I know I can't have trees that can be attacked by EAB and oaks seem
to
have problems of their own. What do you suggest?

One of my favorites is the Locust.
I think the growing habit is very graceful.

2 years ago I picked up a seed pod from one of my neighbors trees
and stored itin the refrigerator over the winter.
I think they may grow slowly, so
far the 2 trees I have are under a foot.

They make a very dappled shade since the leaves are very small.
The leaves don't make a mess either.

IIRC, these have a fern like look to the leaves (sorta-kinda). My brother
has one of these and it is full of thorns. Is there a thornless variety?

Yes that's the tree.

I believe they all have some thorns but not so bad you can't lean
against the trunk of a full grown tree. I think most of the thorns
are in the branches. You wouldn't want to climb it.