Since the billboard and the tree use the same handle ( lower surface count ) it is near impossible fade one-to-the-other as its the same identical blitz ID mesh
Perhaps, but what I'm talking about is the noticable initialisation of the trees fading in at the beginning - the first view inside the castle (from no trees visible what-so-ever). As you move about it works well. Can't you just delay the initial flipping of the draw screen until they have appeared? A black screen for 2 seconds is no hardship (looks as if it's still loading).