Beginner Gardening: Looking for a small tree or shrub, 1 by grapeleaves

grapeleaves wrote:
I live in zone 8b and I have a corner in my garden where I've been wanting to plant a small flowering tree or shrub. In my mind I picture something that flowers on bare branches and can grow to create a sort of canopy. I don't want it to grow too tall. I've thought about magnolias (too large probably?) and dogwood (wrong zone perhaps?). I'm also wondering if there is a concern with the roots being so close to the house wall.

Summary of what I'm dreaming about:

- Flowers on bare branches
- Canopy
- Not too tall

Any plant suggestions?

P.S. There's a tree I see around here with fern-like green leaves and these feathery pink flowers...Does anyone know what it is?