I couldn't cut them down either

Cutting the lower branches is a good idea

And perhaps it might help to thin the crown to allow more light in ... but it also encourages new growth, I think, as mine have really thickened up since they were pruned to let more light in. It was nice and sunny for a year or two.

I am learning to live with the shade restrictions (or is it the sunless restrictions.)
I do not have a dog to wind things up either.

Those are really beautiful trees. Going to research the smoke tree a bit, as I do not think I have ever seen one.

It's a beautiful tree, Marilyn, and here it is in the setting sun about 2 years ago. It's grown a lot since then. The 'smoke' is the bloom, clusters, tiny tiny blooms but they remain smoky looking even as the blooms fade. It's the structure of the cluster then, not so much blooms. Cotinus is its scientific name, I think. They come in a variety of foliage colors, some dark red but mine is dark green.


It will be difficult to trim the crowns since they are so huge and expensive since there are many and I would have to hire someone to do it. Should have thought of that some years ago. But it will help to trim the lower branches, I think.

Something to walk beneath and through adds so much to the presence of a garden - not to mention a place to pause and reflect, as in an otherworldly grove, before coming out into the sun - can be magical.

Beautifully and perfectly said

Exactly, Bluespiral, just the way I feel about them.
Thank you.