Crepe myrtle buds
Darker times may yet lie ahead, but on a hopeful note, the crepe myrtle tree in our front yard, which I worried I had killed due to lack of water last summer, then extensively trimmed back this winter (and as of late, I have been watering almost daily), just sprouted its first buds, several weeks after what seemed like every other tree in Fresno had exploded with white, purple, and pink confetti.
I’m in 7b DC area, and SO grateful to stumble across this post (from 6 yrs ago). I have a youngish (3yrs old?) natchez crepe myrtle that still hasn’t leafed out (😬). Our cold has stuck around longer this year — even and a.m. frost tomorrow morning? 5/12/26?? Yikes. I am aware that these ARE already some of the later trees to leave and bloom anyway — but every year it scares me to death. I just needed to see the picture of the leaf bud, so your photo is exactly what I was looking for — thanks so much.