Youngish yet @ about 10 - 12 feet tall. They were here when we bought the place. Was being crepe murdered before we came on board.

It's hard to tell but if I had to guess I'd say either Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Carolina Beauty') or Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica 'Watermelon Red')

Unfortunately we don't have any photos so you have to go to Google. Carolina Beauty is usually the cultivar when it's the watermelon red color. 'Watermelon Red' is a short tree attaining only about 10 feet max which makes me think you have Carolina Beauty (which can get 20 feet or more.)

Thanks Dave. I have to do more research & also go back down & examine very closely based on the research. I was thinking it could be Tuscarora or Tuskegee. Will just have to narrow them down one by one. I will check out Carolina Beauty. One thing throwing me at the moment is the bark & trunk color. In my photos, it surely isn't cinnamon even under the peeling bark. There are 3 of those Crepes down there & they are all the same variety so I will have to examine each one closely.

Tuscarora looks a good call ..

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu...

http://baker.ifas.ufl.edu/Arbo...

A list of Crapemyrtle in Florida

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg266

Thanks Janet!
If you notice, on the U of Fl. list, for Tuscarora, they note the plant appears "stiff" & that is something that has struck me whenever I look at it or touch it. Also the bark color would be right.

Who knows? Maybe I'll find out all 3 of that color are not all the same variety. It's possible the way things get tagged/labeled these days. I'm 99% sure these came from a big box store too from what I've seen of the other plants the former owners had bought. So that is a consideration when looking at cultivars that may fit.

I have done my research & determined the 3 that I have are indeed Tuscarora.

I did eliminate everything else. The Carolina Beauty is an upright rounded with smooth bark & these certainly have exfoliating bark.
Watermelon red is out b/c of the size it has already attained if nothing else put it out of the running.
It doesn't fit Tuskegee either. The color & shape is not right.
Tuscarora is the right bark color & exfoliation, growth height, growth shape & color, blooms at the same time these bloom, & is highly mildew resistant.

Off to the db now!

Thanks everyone!