The Isaac Tree

Last spring, when we found out we were going to have a baby, we decided to replace the Bradford Pear tree that was lost in a tornado with a new tree - The Isaac Tree.

We shopped and shopped and finally settled on a King Crimson Maple tree. The dilemma was that it wouldn't get big and full and healthy looking for many many years. But, we liked and and weren't really interested in any dwarf trees, so we went for it.
We hauled it home and planted it in the place where the stupid Bradford Pear once stood.

Within weeks, all the leaves fell off and I thought it was a goner. It looked so sad and pathetic all through autumn and winter. Then, this spring, when all the other trees were getting buds and then leaves, the empty Isaac Tree just stayed empty. I thought for sure that it was dead.

Then, just the other day, I noticed that the buds were "hatching". And today, Derek told me to go look at it, and lo and behold, it was covered with leaves. Big, dark, healthy looking leaves. So, I grabbed the camera and ran out and snapped these pics of the King Crimson Isaac Tree.