Question
We live in Lexington KY. and would like to buy a good tree for our new house.  Our yard is not very big so size does "matter."  We would like to have either one tree or possibly clump 3 trees together for our three daughters.  We have thought about a Hawthorne or Dogwood?  Our yard receives full sunlight throughout the day.  Thanks

Answer
I would go with the dogwood. Small herbaceous plants and shrubs, as well as small trees; large, showy white flowers in midspring; bright red berries in fall; crimson autumn foliage; common understory tree; slow growing; varieties of flowering dogwood recommended for Kentucky include Cherokee Chief, Cherokee Princess, Cloud Nine, First Lady, Pendula, Purple Glory, Rainbow, Rubra, Summertime, Sweetwater, and Welchii. Culture
Light: Partial or broken shade is best, but flowering dogwood can tolerate full sun, too. It does best with some shade in the south and full sun in the north.
Moisture: Established specimens are tolerant of normal dry periods, but will need supplemental watering during extreme droughts. Stress of any kind makes dogwoods susceptible to diseases.
I would plant them as a single tree not in a clump. They have a spread of about 15 feet depending on the variety selected and if planted as close as 5 feet apart as they grow the crowns will touch --this is ok but I wanted you to be aware of this happening as the tree get older.

Check with your local tree nursery fro the best variety to fit your situation.