"Adrian" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 20:39:02 +1000, "Andrew G"
wrote:

Hi everyone.
I've heard of it, and I'm sure some of you here have done it.
Planting a tree/shrub etc on a childs first birthday.
We want to do it for our daughter, and while I can think of a few to use,
I
am hoping someone has done it with the following needs:


There's a few species of Ginkgo Biloba that are about the right size /
growth habit, but I'm not sure about resistance to disease. Most
ginkgo will grow huge over hundreds of years, but there are quite a
few dwarf varieties.

Otherwise, not so interesting, but very practical: a bay tree!
They're slow growing, quite attractive, and always welcome in a winter
stew!

Cheers,
Adrian


Thanks to those who have helped.
Well I'm still thinking, maybe Ginko Biloba, a cumquat, or even the port
wine magnolia.
When I mentioned disease, I guess really your typical bugs and stuff are ok,
jut not one that will infest the chosen plant and basically it comes down to
nothing will help it.
I should have mentioned in my OP that I guess colour, flowers, or fruit
aren't TOO much of a concern. I know it sounds a little boring, but I guess
I'm after practicality.
If I can find out a port wine magnolia is a good one for a pot then I will
go for that.
We have them at work, both in pots and in the ground. Both have survived
well so far, about 3yrs, with the in ground ones in poor clay soil. Not
quite as close to the coastline as our house, but still close enough to hear
the waves during large seas and with correct wind, and even maybe a little
salty air.
I was thinking of a standard fig, in a pot. But that limits us to putting it
in the ground in the future, and I guess 18yrs down the track will start
looking like a bonsai standard.
I have already started a bonsai fig from tubestock for her birthday.

Thanks again