leaves close-up

The leaves in the closeup look like aristolochia, which is a vine. It's hard to tell, but in the first picture the upper leaves don't appear to have the same heart shape.

I think cercis141 is correct on the vine; tree might be a blackgum

You are right. It's covered in ivy! I removed some and here are the leaves.

Could you post a focused close-up where the red arrow is?

Unfortunately, we did some weeding/trimming this weekend, and the large- leafed thing that you may have been pointing to appears to have met its end this past weekend. I took the picture before we started.

This is what I've got. Please don't tell me we chopped down something amazing :/

I thought I might have seen poison ivy. But it doesn't look like it in that picture.

It would not surprise me. Not that I could identify poison anything, really. There's so much foliage everywhere. I'm so lost! I know it'll be even worse in the spring when I have to start identifying spring plants! But it's a fun new adventure. And I'm loving it. The yard is 70% of the reason we bought this house. Give or take :)

Does Black Gum seem likely, then? I've Googled, and they are gorgeous in the fall! I was thinking about getting rid of it, but now I'm thinking maybe not. If it turns out to be colorful or fruit-bearing or flowering, I'll probably keep it. Even though I suspect it got its start as an accidental tree that no one pulled up. Just kind of a weird place for it (says the lady who doesn't know what she's talking about!).