Hi Judith, New Dawn's not really hardy for us in zone 2-3. My mom has one and it always survives at the roots but since it blooms on old wood and dies back every year, she never gets a bloom out of it. She also planted it in too much shade.

Anyway, if your canes turn out to be dead, but it grows back from the roots you might skip a year of blooms but should canes survive in subsequent years it would be back on track.

I know what you mean about having to cut it all down, they're prickly!! Hope it's ok anyway.

Burgundy leaf buds are good. That shouldn't be a worry. Just keep waiting; it'll probably come around soon.

Carol

Thanks for the encouragement. I will try and be patient:) I will also take pictures and keep better records so I won't freak out again next spring when something is a little slow. Luckily, we are expecting really nice, warm weather here for the next week; that should help it wake up.
Judith