Hi All,

This will be embarrassing if my tree is exhibiting normal behavior ... but it would also be a real shame if there is something wrong and I could maybe fix it by asking early ... plus, I know very little about plants and am not afraid of looking stupid. (I searched the forum looking for similar questions, and I've also searched the internet looking to see if this is normal, but haven't found any.

The new leaves on my ABRM are coming in differently than I recall from past years. Upon closer inspection, what appear to be brown shriveling leaves are actually reddish leaves that haven't opened up, but it's been this way (except for the end of one branch, as you can see) for over a week now, which is why I thought I would ask the experts here.

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Background: We planted this tree in the fall of 2008, and it doesn't seem to have grown very much since then, so we've been hoping that this year it would take off a little. The tree is on a slope, so I'm planning to build a small terrace around it this spring to help catch and hold water (I did the same thing at our previous house with a tulip tree, which did wonderfully after that).

Tips and suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance!