I'm excited for you! I layered my Annabelle hydrangea and it has leafed out too.

BTW, my Black and Blue has come through again. Have yours?

Oh no Glenda! How long has your Black and Blue been up? I checked mine today and didn't see a thing. I rooted some cuttings last summer of my species guaranitica and then wintered them over in the garage. They still look dead too. : (
Annabelle is one of my favorites. Do you prune yours back any?

Re: Annabelle, sometimes I prune; sometimes I don't. It has green leaves up the length of some stems so I won't do them. If others don't green up, I carefully remove them. The green little twigs are easily broken off.
I will layer several more branches this year and see if they take. You are welcome to take cuttings anytime. I have tried twice but can't get them to root.

Re: Black and Blue Salvia. The one patch that is the oldest next to the pavement is just up a couple of days. The one over in the grass bed isn't showing yet.
I wouldn't give up yet.

I got an Annabelle Hydrangea in a trade years ago and have two more that I started from layering it. I didn't have good luck with cuttings either.

I checked my other hydrangea that was a start from my parents' house and it's leafing out close to the tips too. It's on the east side of my house, on the north end. It doesn't get any shade until the sun goes over the house.
My dad usually cuts their hydrangeas back but they're on the north side of their house, so maybe they die back anyway.

Christie, my B&B just came up this week and I'm quite a bit south of you. I also have two other types that just came up.