Beautiful Crepe Myrtle! I gotta get some of those- I say that every year at this time when I see them in bloom.
Evan, I think Crepe Myrtle would be worth a try for you. When I was a kid I remember our winters being colder than they are now, and some neighbors had Crepe Myrtles. At that time they died back nearly to the ground each year, but they bloom on new wood, so they were lovely each year. They grew more as large shrubs than trees like you see in the south. For the last several years Crepe Myrtles I see in the area don't suffer from the die back.
A big change I'm seeing this year is due to being lucky enough to get rain. I've come to expect no rain in August at all, but this summer rainfall has been pretty regular. It's been hotter this summer too, so I'm extra thankful for the rain. Today we finally got a break from the heat and I was actually able to work in the garden most of the day, and did it ever need it!
