I stumbled upon this old thread and couldn't agree more about the importance of planting trees around our houses. Trees are not only beautiful but also offer so many benefits to our environment. They act as natural air filters, cleaning up the air we breathe by getting rid of harmful pollutants like ozone and carbon monoxide. Plus, they give us the oxygen we need, which is pretty awesome, right? And let's not forget about the birds and other critters that find shelter and food in these amazing trees. It's like a little ecosystem right outside our homes. So why not give it a shot and start planting trees? You can pick any tree that tickles your fancy and meets all the criteria you mentioned. Our environment has been through a lot of pollution lately, and trees can definitely help in purifying the air we breathe. Actually, that's one of the reasons why I planted a thyme lawn last year. What about you guys?