Candace, it is difficult to diagnose from a few forum words. Your tree may still just be getting established--15' trees are large specimens, and installers always have to expect some to just not make the transition into the field. The flaking bark is not a problem--it looks exactly like that on my healthy arbutus. Many trees with this type of interesting bark pattern, such as eucalyptus and sycamores, have periods during the year they tend to flake bark heavily. With mature eucs and sycamores it often comes off in 7-10' pieces and makes a noticeable mess. Arbutus bark flaking is much more discrete. What alarmed me was you saying that it wilts often. Remember, this root system in the hot confines of the box container was supporting that 15' tree at the nursery. In the ground, after a year, the tree should be less stressed than when it was in the box, not showing more stress. Frequently deep watered while in very rich topsoil is not good for this tree. I'm sorry. I really hope they pull through and thrive. These are great trees. --------------------------------- deviant-deziner, another disease to which this tree is susceptible is Botryosphaeria canker and dieback. This fungus tends to take advantage of weakened trees. The outer crown foliage will often look healthy, but the smaller inner-canopy branches begin to shrivel and die. If memory serves, the older, lower leaves on the tree go next. I don't know what symptoms your local trees are exhibiting. Please share the lab results if tests are done.

Chowhound is a good source for dining recommendations, as Ellen suggested. I lived in Venice for 15 years and still go back there for restaurants. We also frequently go to nearby Culver City (which is gaining a hip vibe) and Marina Del Rey, which is adjacent to my current neighborhood (as is Culver City). There are so many choices in Venice/Culver City/MDR that you really have to narrow it down to what you like or want to experience. The day before my birthday, we went to East Borough Fraiche Vietnamese in downtown Culver City (Washington Blvd & Culver Blvd), and there are a slew of new hip place clustered in that triangular block. It's next door to a sourdough pizza place that we want to try, and there are more great places around the corner and down the street. On my birthday, we went to Paiche in MDR, and it is a bit expensive, but extremely good if you are adventurous and want to try Peruvian Izakaya style food. Good for a group of 3-4 people (not children) who have small to medium appetites. Also in the area I mentioned, you have your choice many Middle Eastern restaurants, including Lebanese, Turkish, Persian, etc., and so if you are interested in that, I can recommend what I like. Also, if you like Japanese, you can go to the Sawtelle neighborhood on Sawtelle between Olympic and Santa Monica Blvds. Wharo is an excellent Korean Barbeque restaurant in MDR on Lincoln, just south of Washington Blvd, almost in Venice. Then there is Abbot Kinney Blvd, where Kevin and I used to live, which has several interesting restaurant and gelato shops. I highly recommend the French Market Cafe, where I have frequently seen TV stars dining on the patio, but the food is definitely worth it, if you like French Bistro style, and it is not expensive. It is one block from my old house and was our nearest market, and so we went there often. Further down the street is Joe's Restaurant - a great place for brunch, lunch, or dinner. I had another birthday brunch years ago when I still lived in Venice and a cooking forum member took me there. If you are interested in possibly seeing celebrities, you could try The Cat & Fiddle on Sunset in Hollywood. The food is British (not to my taste, but some people like it), and I have seen Keanu Reeves and Gina Davis there on the same evening, but that was 10 years ago. For better British food, I recommend Ye Olde Kings Head in Santa Monica, half a block from the Third Street Promenade. BTW, Abbot Kinney Blvd has been named the hippest street in L.A., taking over the title from Melrose Ave, which is still worth visiting. Another hip place on Abbot Kinney is Four Square Restaurant, about a block from Joe's. Another place to try for pizza is Pizzeria Mozza, but I also like Abbot's Pizza on Abbot Kinney - much cheaper and very good. For people watching on the Venice Boardwalk, try The Waterfront Cafe or The Sidewalk Cafe, which has a better view, although I prefer the food at the Waterfront. They are both good for boardwalk cafes. If you want, you can email me, and I will give you my phone number so that you or your sister could call if you want additional recommendations. It's really impossible to list all of them without narrowing down the selection. Lars This post was edited by publickman on Wed, Mar 5, 14 at 21:10

Thanks... I'll keep my optimism and hope for the best for my Arbutus marina. I've picked a spot in full sun (of course) with good drainage, etc etc. I've given up on the native Arbutus (at least temporarily). I've tried several times and have had limited success, though I've never had one die due to harsh winters. They always seem to die in late spring / summer / fall, for no apparent reason (which the native Arbutus is known for). The last one I had lasted for 4 years. It was a nice looking, healthy little tree and then, poof, it just decided to die in mid-July. I hope you have more success than I with that that one. I am (probably temporarily) content with looking at the huge healthy native Arbutus across the street in my neighbour's yard.

Thanks for posting bpath! I looked at a unit in Marina City way back when I was single and living in Lincoln Park. (Ended up buying a loft in the Lincoln Park area.) On the last trip I took pre-Covid, back in early March, met a pilot who had a place in Marina City. He showed us pictures and I was impressed with the view and what seemed like a very low price for a city condo. I love Chicago! Been a suburbanite for years but my kids grew up with outings taking the train to the city and visiting Lincoln Park Zoo and some of my other old haunts up there. (Late DH and I got married at Cafe Brauer - so pretty!) I guess it's no surprise that when my DD graduated college last year she moved to Lincoln Park :) I love the Architectural Foundation river tours, and in addition to Marina City one of the sights has always intrigued me: the Harry Weese River Cottages. I'd love to see the inside of one someday.