Dion,

Your un identified tree in the woods with big leaves is (Paulownia tomentosa) Empress Tree, or Royal Paulownia. An exotic tree that self seeds on occasion.

Dion:

I quite enjoyed your pictures I must say. Do you by chance know how old your Empress Tree is? I have a young one I am preparing to plant and wonder if all the hype about it being incredibly fast growing is true.

Thanks.

Kathryn