Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William)? Here is a link that might be useful: Sweet William

Yes, it is Paulownia tomentosa, a non-native invasive weed tree. Here is a link that might be useful: North Carolina invasive plants

Indeed - if only this species were easier to propagate/grow. Alas, it is a tough one.

I make two. A summer sauce on the stove-top and an oven roasted winter sauce when the weater is cooler in mid-late September. Both are blendered smooth similar to a Raos. Summer sauce is a soft miropoix, onion, celery, carrot, half a red or yellow beet, garlic, minced fine in my cuisinart...low and slow, pat of butter, white wine. No color, just soft. Chopped heirlooms, five minutes of heat. Still fresh. Into the blender. First small batch was about a month ago. A pint for the fridge and about 6 1/2 pints for the freezer. All gone. Making another bigger batch today. (overcast and rainy) DH had a funky stomach when i made that first batch. After 24 hours of broth, baby steps into noodle/dumpling bowl, then tomato soup sounded good. (1/2 pint of stock, 1/2 pint of summer tom sauce) A base sauce that can be used a dozen ways. Add a pint of fresh halved cherry tomatoes... I don't grow romas but i would probably roast, as mentioned, halved, cut side up, low and slow. With some crisper veg on hand, then blender. Or chunky if that is what you like. I just retired the old braun stick.(makes a mess). I have a Breville that is a bit bulky but easier to clean. When i start roasting, most go into quart zip-locks. Cherry tomatoes go into quarts whole. Adding so much veg is more a personal choice. I like the food value...i always have a full crisper. And less rich tomato flavor we prefer. Enevitably, when overwhelmed with harvest, i just slice and chop whole tomatoes and freeze. I realize you don't have lots of garden harvest like some of us, but my farmstand where we buy fresh corn, will have ten pound boxes of Jersey sauce tomatoes for 5 bucks in a few weeks. Not rotting, just some are a bit soft. It always seens like a lost-leader 'give back' to those that have supported them all season. DH bought a box 5-6 years ago when i was working out of town, after killing all my garden tomatoes. They ran out another free box to his truck. Never know when you might come across more than you know what to do with....