I'm new to the forum and also new to growing. I grew up in Florida and Georgia around citrus trees, peaches, and pecans. I'm currently just outside of Tikrit, Iraq, and have a wife back home trying to find a house for us. Because we're looking for a larger piece of land on our modest budget, we're planning on moving back to her home state of Illinois near the Mississippi River. I'd love to plant some fruit or nut bearing trees in the yard as soon as I get home, but don't know what grows well in the area. As I've been researching more, I'm learning more about the problems of pollination and damage by cold. I was also wanting to build an arch over the gate to our backyard with lattice up the sides and roof and wanted to plant grapes at the base in hope that they would climb (something I saw at the governor's mansion in Florida). So I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what trees would be best for the backyard, and if grapes would make it through the colder winters, or if another climbing vine would be best. Any help is greatly appreciated.

First of all, thank you for your service. Planning on what you'll do when you get back home has been a soldier's pasttime since George Washington daydreamed about his gardens at Mt. Vernon.

Gene Yale's up in the Chicago area and you can see his favorite apple varieties at http://www.midfex.org/yale/favor.html The rest of his website is facinating also, but the ultra-dwarf trees are too wussy for me. I agree however that 100 apple trees are way easier to take care of than a lawn.

I vote for grapes on the arch.