i gave heavy pruning to all my old trees in dec. i noticed VdB had some cold damage since i left it out below 32 back last yr. Paradiso and Kathleen's Black broke bud about a week ago, but no sign on VdB. good thing i have a back up. and back up broke bud some time ago.

it used to be that VdB was always the first to break bud. hope i didn't damage it.

Last year my VdB was the last to break bud.  However, it wasn't looking too happy the Fall before.  It's roots had grown through the bottom of the pot into the ground. I cut the roots and put it in the garage before it was dormant because I was concerned about a cold snap.  It looked droopy for a couple weeks and then finally lost its leaves.  Last year it wasn't very productive.  I'm hoping for a better year with it this year.  So yes it doesn't sound like your VdB is happy either and cold damage would probably explain it.

Pete, you can not damage VDB!  It is like an Apricot tree.  Mind of it's own!  It will break bud when its ready!  I have the mama here, and we whacked off every branch (sent them to a few of you), and a lot of the roots.  I thought she was dead.  We plated her in a nice spot, and guess what?  She has tons of life showing!  All those big branches we chopped, well, no nodes, nothing like that, she is pushing growth off of plain no node branches!  She wants to live, and she is now in her happy place!

Suzi

Suzi,

The cuttings you provided are budding on the East Coast now. :)

Petite Negri has not broken bud so far in Atlanta, for what it's worth.