I love crepe myrtle, which is a challenge in my Zone. No huge trees, but my Muskogee is giving it a try - it is ~ 12 feet high. I built a cage around it last year and filled with leaves to 6 ' high.
All told I have 8 crepe myrtles - one (Sioux) that I grew from seed last year. I have another 5 seedlings I started this year - all dwarf varieties.
And yes - post more pics.
I think that is way cool in your climate you plant seeds and they bloom same year.
