Spotted this on a sapling while walking with her grand daughter today. I have an idea, but wanted to run it by FHC just for fun. Dollar bill for scale and the prize for correct answer.
Like your tulip poplar leaf from not too long ago, this one looks atypical for the tree. I'm guessing populus genus, eastern cottonwood in particular.
I'd say witchhazel too at first glance, but witchhazel is asymmetrical from side-to-side at the leaf base. Serrations are not fine enough for beaked hazel or American hazelnut. Not smooth enough for hazel alder. I'm stuck on hazel but can't match it to anything I know.
