I'm anxious for them to bloom too Glenda. : ) I'd like to see what color the flowers are. I'm really hoping the crape myrtle seedling that I found this summer with light lavender flowers makes it through the winter. If it's still alive, I'll transplant it somewhere (I don't know where) in the spring.
Looks like your smoke tree has good fall color as well.

I love smoke trees for the leaves. Sometimes in the morning when dew is on the smoke and the sun shines on it, they are beautiful. There was a big smoke tree that I used to drive by when I used to work. In the mornings the dew sparkled on it and that made me want a smoke tree. I lost a small one but now I have one that has lived several years. At first I thought you had named the bed for a person. It would be nice to do that. I think it would be an incentive to weed and care for it. Your combination looks good and I admire your planning. I am not known for my planning and that is how I got an orange azalea next to a pink rose.

Helen, this is the only bed in the entire yard that was actually planned!

I should photograph the tree from the east side out in the field by the hay. I noticed coming home yesterday that the side that gets that morning sun is a much brighter orange color.

We are looking at the west side of the bed here.

What a nice bed Glenda. The hayfield makes a nice backdrop. I live in town so privacy fences are my backdrop. I have a smoke tree about the same size. I dont recall its name but have the tag around here somewhere.
How large is your smoke tree Helen? I'm afraid I planted mine too close to the house.

The one I have now is only three years old and not as large as Glenda's. They are supposed to be tough but I have lost several through the years and never had a big one. I admire them in other peoples yards. Nancy I think I read you should cut them back so if yours is too close, I think you can cut it back drastically and get sprouts from the bottom. I may be making that up, but I think I read somewhere that it is better as a multi stemed shrub. I would be afraid to cut mine to the ground with my luck but some people recommend that.