Naturalnut, my big leaf maples are in a "natural" area that is 25' wide. The area was established by the county when zoning the area for development. Currently, the area that I pay taxes on has : 2 large and 1 small maple, a western red cedar, and over 11 firs. Most of the firs are over 95' tall and are about 100' from my house, the closeness is my main concern with the firs. After almost 5 yrs living at this location, I have noticed that the minor forest blocks the wind; only cause problems when a tree dies (my responsibility to take the dead ones down so that they do not land on a neighbors house, but not my responsibility if a living tree falls on a house. --unless it is my house); and does not block the view of the Sinclair Inlet with the ships entering or leaving the Bremerton Naval Shipyard, and the Bremerton/Seattle ferry. I also watch the birds in the trees, including owls, eagles, and Piliated Wood Peckers -- periodically see Red Neck Pheasants coming out to feed on the neighbors bird seed.
My last house was in Colorado, it sat on a 2.6 acre lot that had ponderosa trees. Most of them over 2'in diameter at the 3' level, one was about 4-5' in diameter. They provided needed shade and nesting area for Great Horned Owls that raised their young. I found it interesting have 3 white heads watching me when I walked in my back area, and when Mom and Pop hunted snakes, rabbits and squirrels. Also watched Western Screach Owl, foxes, deer, and rabbits. The Ponderosas were closer to my house than the firs are to my current house. I lived there for 22 yrs and only took out about 4 trees that were less than 12" in diameter-- they were either close to my house or my septic leach field.
Overall, I enjoy the trees (wish they were less than 75' tall) for the wild life they attract, except for the current deer that ruin my plants.
