Live Oak, River Birch, both beautiful, but grow very large. Maybe a fruit tree (or two)? Paw Paw, grapefruit, both give good shade and aren't so big. Or an ornamental, like a plum or of course crape myrtle. The options are endless. What does your county extension service recommend?

Taxodium distichum - Baldcypress - a fast, tall tree for nice soft shade. They usually don't blow down.

In our area the Palms seemed to hold up best to the strong winds. We had what was left of our pines taken out, so they wouldn't hit the house in the next storm. They do snap with the wind don't they. I miss them however.

We're having 6 of our 9 pines taken down tomorrow. Two were recently struck by lightning and the others need to come down to make way for construction of a garden shed. I won't be sorry to see any of them go. The needles are great for mulch and they do provide a measure of shade in the yard, but watching them sway with each bad storm hasn't gotten really old. I'm looking forward to transplanting my own choice of trees.

Already purchased a Dawn Redwood (like Bald Cypress, but without the knees), Chalk Maple, Winged Elm, and a Silverbell. May buy a River Birch and something else before all is said and done.

Wanted to add that Baton Rouge Green is having their annual Fall Tree Sale next weekend (October 29 & 30) at Burden Research Plantation on Essen Lane.