Water management

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Dear Karrie,

Thanks for this site http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/Environmental_Horticulture/
 I found it really good and useful.

Here in S. W. France I am trying to make a garden out of a field, rather heavy clay mix [on a bed of pure sand about 6 feet down] ! Some parts have quite good soil where there was livestock in the past, others have buried motor tyres and binder twine etc. The usual farm detritus.

Hot and dry in summer, and can be down to -25, but more usually between -5 and -10 in winter.

I like a challenge, but feel I am rather too old for this one.

Have any of you suggestions for small trees [say 12/15 feet] near the house, on the east side which will get hot sun [ between 30 and occasionally 40 degrees] from early morn till mid day in summer. I would like light feathery foliage in summer to shade a door, and clear of leaves in winter to let in the light?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Jennifer