
How long will we live with reminders that this spring played tricks on our trees and shrubs, with the early warm weather causing them to break dormancy ahead of schedule and then the return of winter zapping them back to reality?
Looking around, I think it is the trees that were most impacted by the warm-very cold-warm cycle and recovery will take some time. Above is a branch from a honey locust tree (Gleditsia tricanthos) showing the little leaves that were zapped by the cold and the green buds that tell me this tree will be fine.
Below is a red maple tree (Acer rubrum). It, too, will be just fine.

I'm not quite sure what to expect from this red bud (Cercis canadensis). It is struggling a bit trying to leaf out.

But now is not the time to start pruning. We need to wait and give the trees and shrubs a chance to recover. So, I'm going to follow my normal spring schedule of planting and gardening and then see how the trees and shrubs look before I buy a chain saw.
Comments
They're still taking them down as I write this. It will be a massive effort to replace them.
— Susan from South of the River
My phlox are starting to bloom. This is the first year I've had them. Are they supposed to be blooming now or are they early?
Not a tree whisperer.
LostRoses... Don't tell anyone, but I don't really like tools like chain saws, so I probably won't buy one to use myself.
Kathy... I like your plan!
Susan... Thanks for the good thoughts for my trees. Add one for the month of May that it only rains at night, okay?
Jen...If you mean the ground cover phlox, yes, this is the time for them to bloom around here.
Blackswamp_Girl... I am anxious to see what the trees look like in the next few weeks.
Yolanda Elizabet... Definitely need to wait and see, and would have no time to prune now, anyway. I am not planning a new tool collection. I don't really like power tools!
Molly... That's why we need to wait and be patient before we assume a plant is dead.
Ki... I'm taking your advice and threatening the trees a bit this weekend. They all saw me remove an oak tree a few years ago, so they know I can do it again!
Old Roses... Thanks for the nice comment and kind thought.
Thank you all for the comments and encouragement!