No leaf distortion -- they look pretty good, although some were curling a little yesterday, but it might have been the heat. However, I did discover that there are aphids in the tree -- not many, which is why I didn't notice the other day. Is there some way I can get rid of the aphids? It's too big to spray. Maybe since there aren't many aphids, I should just leave it alone?

I simply love the overall look of 'Heritage' River Birch trees. The 'Dura Heats' are reported to withstand planting areas that drain better and that may encounter more drying out in the hottest parts of summer, when rains are less apt to occur. Personally though, the 'Dura Heat' birches seem to display a little more yellow than I would prefer to see in a birch tree's bark. The leaves also do not seem to be as nicely shaped or colored as the Heritage Birch tree's leaves. Bottom line; I guess whichever birch cultivar you plant needs to the cultivar that is more compatable with the soil conditons and climate that the tree will encounter in its intended planting site. Still personally I prefer the Heritage Birch tree cultivar over most others. There are even prettier cultivars than Heritage Birch, but any those others that happen to tolerate my USDA zone area seem to be more prone to Birch borers or even other pests, which feed off the leaves of such birch trees.

"For instance, if you have a moat around your tree and all the water stays inside the moat, fast deluge wont hurt." But with various trees and shrubs in MOST North American climates, this is setting up disaster if heavy rains cause the roots to rot. You can always add water to soil, you can't subtract it. So, there's a tradeoff. Yes, what you are saying can superficially make watering easier and I've done it for things like Brugsmansias before. I have a new hydrangea planted in a slight depression (but roots level) because I know it's already a dry spot under a thirsty Ilex opaca and I have no doubt it will be fine. I would never plant any rhododendron that way. (or even a fancier, rarer hydrangea like a non-hybridized Chinese species. H. sargentiana likes it wet in terms of high rainfall, but DOES NOT like permanently wet feet and hot summers. I had one die in a prolonged rainy spell a few summers ago ago)

roxanna, I agree completely! Couldn't live in a tree-less place! PM2, thanks for your input. That was indeed one of my concerns, that the river birch wouldn't have the same shade canopy as the maple. But on the other hand I probably wouldn't live to see the full canopy of the maple anyway! The arborist told me my oak was about 200 years old. :( And my vegetable garden is in the one small spot of sun I have. The gardens around and under the trees are perennial shade gardens. I want to plunk the new tree in pretty much the same spot as the old, so I don't have to move the gardens. And honestly there's not too much more room for yet another tree, to put it elsewhere. My husband said, just plant both! And I said... where??? LOL. I have almost an acre but I do indeed have at least 40 trees already. And yes, its the maple roots I am concerned about. I never gardened under maples and I hear it can be difficult. So roxanna, you have given me some hope about the river birch! And as far as sticks - oh my goodness I think all we do now is pick up sticks. So that will be nothing new! As far as being strong, I guess that's a roll of the dice these days with the weather. I'm about 30 miles inland (and that from LI Sound, not the actual ocean) and we are definitely not what would be considered a hurricane hotspot lol. But the last few years we've had a couple of bad (for New England) hurricanes and some pretty strong residual winds from others, as well, shockingly, as a few tornadoes in the area. I agree I will take my chances! kitasei2, thank you! I LOVE my stump lol and am so glad I kept it, even if others come into the yard and question my decision. Gardeners will love it; others, who don't get it, and who think it's odd that I kept it, I just tell them it would have cost me another thousand bucks to cut it down, and they get THAT lol. My main concern with the stump is that I thought perhaps when I had the tree company plant the tree, they would remove or at least partially remove the stump, ot at least some of the roots. Since there's no way I can do that, I am planting my little sapling, whatever I choose, in amongst the massive roots. I hope whatever I plant will do well. I take encouragement from my daily walk, where I see trees growing out of rocks, out of other trees, and in other inhospitable places. Time will literally tell. Thanks for your input everyone! I'm leaning toward the river birch, mostly for it's quick growth rate. I just wish it were bigger now - it's not even the foot I thought it was. Another look showed it to be 7 inches lol. Thanks! :) Dee