It's such a drag when stores don't put the plant's Latin name on the plant tags. There's a plant called American blue vervain (Verbena hastata) that's actually a perennial, and it's hardy all the way up to Zone 3. Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta) is another U.S. native that's also perennial and hardy to Zone 4. Narrowleaf vervain (Verbena simplex) is a perennial species that is reported to grow wild in Ohio. There are several other U.S. native Verbenas that are native to more southern and southwestern areas of the U.S., so may not survive the winter in your area, and would be considered annuals in your case. There's also Tall Verbena (Verbena bonariensis) which is native to South America, and is only hardy to Zone 7 in the U.S.A. Hopefully your Verbena is American blue vervain, Narrowleaf vervain, or Hoary vervain, and it will return to your garden next year!

There are many toxic plants that grow all around us so that shouldn't scare you. And its been a while (I think I was a kid the last time I find any jimsonweed growing wild around here), but I seem to recall the plants/foliage having a foul smell. Probably even more so to dogs so I can't imagine they would ever bother it. I just mention it since many folks think toxic equals bad and you don't have to obliterate it because it is toxic. Some sources list the Americas as the native place for this species and some Asia. It seems to be unclear. I live in Western NY State - pretty similar and close to NE Ohio. The only place I've seen this plant was in places most other plants wouldn't/couldn't grow. And in fact, I haven't seen any in decades. I don't think it will overrun your place. FataMorgana

Beeohio, thank you for your response. Sounds like The Wilds is the place for me. My home decor is so into animals that friends and family refer to my house as "the zoo" Glenda, an African Safari would be at the very top of my wish list. Jodi, I did get to tour the San Diago Zoo in 1996, but not that part of it. Have hoped to get back there before I die to do a Roar and Snore. Maybe Ohio is close enough for me to experience a similar outing. Susan, I have experienced the "herd of bison" at Custer Park. Beleive me, those suckers are BIG! When you are on a motorcycle and half dozen bison are walking on the road next to you, you mind your p's and q's!

Sorry for the small image! I will attach one with larger font below: Thank you Ken and Lane for the advice. To Lane -- I will reconsider my choice of blue spruce based on the humidity in our region. I do plan to cut down a lot of the hybrid poplar and willow stuff as it grows and as the more sturdy evergreen trees grow taller. To Ken -- I love oak trees, but I don't want more trees that are close to the house, and I mostly want to stick with evergreens as I love year round color and not dealing with leaves. I would consider planting them further from the house though. As for the soil, there is definitely a lot of clay (we are actually near Westerville) but I'm hoping that all the excavation will loosen some of the top soil. Also, I am fine with the planting ending up being a bunch of tall trees -- in fact, that's what I prefer. Basically, in 20 years (we hope for this to be our forever home) I would love to look out our front door and practically see a forest of mostly evergreen trees separating us from the road. I just want to make sure that I do it in a way that ends up crowded in a good way as quickly as possible without hurting the trees. I too worry about the lifespan and strength of "fast growing" trees, but I do prefer to have at least part of this planting growing as quickly as possible. So my thinking was to mix in 3 different species of these fast growing trees so that I don't have to worry about losing them all at once to disease, and surround them with better long-term trees so that as they die/loose limbs, I'll still be left with a little mini forest of evergreen trees. I hope this helps give a little more detail into what I am looking to do. I am definitely open to different species than the ones listed above, and I am fine with planting further apart if I can still achieve a dense, forest-like area in the future.