It's most probably the warmer fall you've had..I still have clematis Blooming here in Texas zone 8B..don't you usually prune your Clems in late winter/early spring?..I would wait till then because it is dormant..why prune and leave the cut vine open to disease etc...Jeanne

Nibbling back could've been for scionwood. Will grow as vase, rather narrow. Old bark ugly. You could cut it back periodically, grow it as shrub if it has enough vigor to come back well each time. Wound on trunk could be serious, like other Japanese maples these are prone to fungal/bacterial problems. Painting wound with copper might help, but this would no doubt depend on what, exactly is going on.

Mine just started blooming, but doesn't look like that. I'll take a picture in the morning. It looks like a couple more of the buds will be opened. Actually, I didn't much look at the first bloom today, as I was busy running around. This evening, it looks like it could be termed mauve, but it is a mauve blend. More tomorrow! You may have gotten a mislabeled plant from Reagans - which is quite unusual!

There are a couple of popular online cams that show Allens nesting, multiple times, from approx. Fall into mid to late Spring. The nests consist of small twigs, lichen, plant fibers glued together with spider web ;) One in La Vern, 4 to 5 clutches of eggs laid annually from Nov into early June Another in So Cal said to be a Channel Island Allen who typically raises 4-5 clutches from Oct into May