This is fortunately an ideal location for all the species of large and obtrusive trees that would not be appropriate for my small and mostly paved urban garden. I don't worry about what might be damaged or who might be offended by my sugar maples, Lombardy poplars or Monterey pine.

Any of these trees would be too large or too aggressive for my home garden. Not only would they damage concrete pavement, but would also encroach into utility cables, necessitating harsh and severely detrimental pruning to maintain minimal clearance. At older homes, subterranean utilities, particularly unsealed iron or terra cotta sewer pipes, could be overwhelmed with roots of poplars, willows or ash.

Even if there happened to be a place where a very large tree would not eventually reach utility cables or pavement, I would be concerned about encroachment into neighboring views or gardens. My neighbors may not want so much shade or may simply not want to rake leaves. The neighbors who complained from their new "monster" home about the view of my drying laundry would really be bothered by a tree that would obstruct their view!

Of course, most neighbors like trees and some even prefer small trees to obscure views of adjacent residences. Because trees are the most enduring residents of the garden, selection of appropriate species is very important. I don't want this information to seem redundant to earlier discussions, but arboricultural mistakes are not as easily corrected as other gardening mistakes. The International Society of Arboriculture's website, www.isaarbor.com, can help with the selection of appropriate tree species and includes links to several other interesting sites.

I will talk more about the Monterey Bay Master Gardeners' 7th annual Masters' Garden Tour later, but wanted to mention that tickets may be purchased in advance for $15 at various horticultural establishments around the Monterey Bay Area. In northern Santa Cruz County, tickets are available at Scarborough Gardens of Scotts Valley, The Plant Works of Felton, Miller's of Soquel, The Potting Shed, Native Revival Nursery and Hidden Gardens Nursery of Aptos, and The Garden Company, Far West Nursery, Floribunda, Pottery Planet and San Lorenzo Garden Center of Santa Cruz. In Watsonville, tickets can be purchased at Sierra Azule.

This self-guided tour will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 11 and includes six gardens of Santa Cruz, Soquel and Aptos. Tickets, which include a description of and directions to the gardens, will be available for $20 at only two of the gardens during the event. These gardens are located at 121 Easterby Ave. in Santa Cruz and 340 Bowen Ave. in Aptos. More information can be obtained by calling 408.354.9043.

Vine of the Week: Creeping fig

I was rather concerned to see creeping fig, Ficus pumila, creeping from an already overwhelmed chimney of my neighbor's home and onto the roof and wooden walls. In the wild, it is known as the strangler fig because the juvenile growth creeps up trees, wrapping the trunks with a loose mesh of fused stems, which expand and strangle the host trees. As host trees are strangled, they are simultaneously overwhelmed by the shrubby adult growth of the strangler fig. The neighbor's creeping fig will not strangle the chimney, but might be so firmly attached to the roof and walls that removal of the vines may include paint and shingles.

Juvenile leaves are small and dark green, but adult leaves may be as long as four inches. "Minima" has smaller leaves. "Quercifolia" has lobed leaves. "Variegata" is variegated with white.

Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.