Oh, I am feeling mighty stupid right now.

The victim is a deciduous azalea, with crimson flowers, an orange blotch, and a lovely scent. I brought it to MD from PA 6 years ago. It didn't thrive, probably because I didn't get enough of the original root system, and in a year or two it was reduced to just a trunk and dead twigs. Last fall I saw some leaves I recognized near the base and thought perhaps things were turning around...

This spring, as in just now, I looked around the base of the plant and saw nothing. I looked and couldn't find any sign of life from the base and so reluctantly [it's been 4 years since it really showed any signs of life] I snapped the dead wood away....

And then saw the buds coming from higher up on the thick "dead" trunk. Leaf buds and even what might be a flower bud.

I could .... ARGH...!

I've plunked the whole trunk portion into a bucket of water, and rather than continue growling at myself, I'm appealing to all of you. What should I do now?