I think the reason why it's a big deal to me is that the tree was half dead when we moved in. The entire main branch was dead, so I hacked it off and hoped for the best. By pulling back the grass, mulching the area around the trunk, and regular food/water, it's now the biggest on the block.
From top to bottom, left to right, I've posted pictures from 2006 - 2011. In the coming years I'm going to have to keep it trimmed and away from the house. This type of maple is supposed to grow about 40 - 50 feet tall and 20 - 30 feet wide. My guess is that it's only halfway done.
