We have a mature Chilean mesquite tree that has been happily growing in our front yard for many years. We live in Los Angeles and have had drought conditions for most of its life until this past winter. I understand that mesquites go dormant during winter and lose their leaves, but this year it seems to be in its dormancy for much longer than usual. We cut through the bark on a low growing branch to check for green (which we found), but we're still wondering why there are no signs of new buds yet. Could the wetter than usual winter we had this year be causing a longer dormancy? This has never happened before, but as I said, this was probably the wettest winter this tree has lived through. It is planted in soil that drains well, so I don't expect that the root system has rotted. Any ideas as to why our tree is taking so long to show signs of life this year?