Joe - Nah. Not an Amelanchier. Foliage is not quite right, and Amelanchier flowers have skinner petals. Carol - that could be it. Definitely something in the Rosaceae family, I think. My only hesitation is that this garden was neglected for quite some time, is overrun with lonicera (both vines and shrubs), berberis, Euonymus alatus, etc. And these shrubs are covering an entire side of the suburban yard. It looks like they've been there for a while, and they're taking over along with the rest. Has P. villosa been around for a while? Does it show invasive tendencies here?

Okay, finallly after all the great suggestions I ended up spending some money....and wishing I had still more room for a few other great suggestions. The Dogwoody shrub that wants too be a tree thing has been moved to the far back yard with other shrub Dogwoods. In it's place is a young Fringe Tree, Chionanthus Virginicus, about 5.5 feet tall from a local nursery. Because there were so many good suggestions, I also picked up a Red Buckeye that was on sale at the same local nursery as it was leftover from last year. Looks good, lots of good buds. It is on the north side of the Virginicus, towards the back. On the corner, between the two, is a rather columnar and tall 11' Tricolor Beech that I found after checking several Menard's stores (the first two I found were gone when I went back for them). It's in a great location, but sadly, I don't think it will end up working out too well. The tree has lots of good new buds, but I wasn't able to check it out real well when I saw it as it was raining pretty hard (the beginning of the deluge y'all saw on the TV of the Chicago area getting hammered). Once I had the hole dug and started to unpot it, I saw that it had been balled and burlapped before being put in the pot. Removing the burlap, it didn't have much of a rootball and looked to have a graft section that had been cut off when it was dug up. Hmm. My first thought was to bring it back, but then what else would I put in the hole I'd dug? Then I realized I have all year to see how it does before I have to bring it back. So I planted it and am anxious to see how it goes through the spring and summer. I've had some things with a lesser rootball that survived well with some extra attention, and I figure I'll give this guy a chance at a happy life first. Picture is of the tree in the yard, trunk still wrapped and some staking in case the wind gets tough. Kind of hard to see with no leaves, though. Next picture is of the rootball and graft section. Should be an interesting spring and summer, still need to find room for a Kousa, though...

Yeah, I was going to say that too. Why plant a non-native magnolia when the Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) is so nice? Also the Bay Laurels (Myrica) might work well too and I'm fairly certain several of them are native to your area. I have no Idea if it grows that far north, but fringe tree is another small (and fragrant!) tree that might work. Lastly, you might try one of the native witch hazels. There is a fall blooming and a spring blooming one (and the both bloom after/before almost anything else).

If the spot is not too dark (bright indirect light or a bit of morning or late afternoon sun) one suggestion is a japanese maple. If you really like variegated leaves, there are several variegated japanese maples. The one I am familiar with is Butterfly which only grows 8' to 10' tall with an upright shape. I grow mine under a large crabapple in a spot with only late afternoon sun and, with watering during dry spells, it is very happy and turns interesting pink, purple shades in the fall.