My new-ish house is in Indiana subdivision. Nice patio and some small trees, but I really want a couple shade trees more to block view of neighbors swingset and vinyl clad houses. I think maple of some sort would have the best shape from my research so far. I ideally want 6 ft of trunk (to get over my 6ft fence) and then a 25 ft wide crown on top to improve the view from patio. I like making diagrams, hopefully attached :) This picture from google map is several years old. Existing trees..... #1 decent size 20ft tall maple #2 mini-willow 8ft of some sort, looks nice but no help with shade or the view #3 small/sparse 10ft #4 small/sparse 8ft #5 neighbor's large willow is grown to fence now I want to, but can't decide if/what I should plant at location T1 and T2. Long term probably not a great idea as they will be into my existing trees #1 #2 #3. In the short term, they probably are not going to offer the privacy block that I want for 5-10 years(???). Big box stores have fair selection of $50-90 trees to choose from right now (I need to act fast!). Some quite tall (15ft+) but skinny Norway maple I think. Also smaller 8 ft Autumn Blaze maples and bunch of other varieties in between. I was in same situation last year and didn't buy anything. If I wait again trees will be more expensive (stores don't carry much after spring), so would have to go to nursery) and I'll be losing time. So, any advice greatly appreciated! :) Kevin

I am pretty new to gardening. My grandfather was the man with all the knowledge but he is tending garden in heaven now. Please correct me if I get any facts wrong. I live in the high desert of California. I have planted peppers, tomatoes, some squash, some pumpkins, and some cantaloupe. Last year I only had a few peppers and tomatoes. It was pretty successful, especially the habeneros. Except for the horn worms, and some actual tomato worms. I must have hand picked 5 worms a day for 3 months. the tomato worms showed up late in the season and soapy water got rid of most of them them right before the season ended, but it also seemed to damage the plant, as well as one butter squash plant. I have learned that the horn worms come from Luna moths, and I believe the tomato worms are from a beetle. Today while watering, I noticed dozens of what I think are either monarch butterflies, or painted lady butterflies, and a few white butterflies with 2 black dots at the wing tips. Are these pests that i should be worried about? What is my course of action?