Well, your plant, no doubt, was artificially encouraged to bloom early by being held in greenhouse or at least nursery conditions. Plants that are held even in unheated "cold storage" houses with white nursery plastic wake up sooner than do ones growing outside in the field, because even the white plastic traps some heat. And, this early, early warm spring no doubt helps. Yes, it is pretty normal for Buddleia to start blooming in July here in my area (Detroit) and continue to hard frost. BUT, BUT, BUT, you also need to realize that this plant tends to be a die-back perennial in the colder zones, so it needs to start essentially "from scratch" every year. This past winter, the woody parts on all of mine survived, so I do expect them to begin to bloom earlier than average, although I honestly haven't paid much attention to see if they are beginning to bud yet. The most important thing about overwintering it to mulch DEEPLY, at least 6 inches, twelve is better, over the crown with some type of mulch that isn't prone to compacting (I use oak leaves, they don't mush down nearly as fast as maple, ash, or most other leaves). Put the mulch on just before you think the ground will freeze up for the season (I do it around Thanksgiving here), and take it off about the time the daffodils bloom).

They really are tough plants (for the most part) and repotting isn't difficult tho' I know it's scary the first time or two. First be sure you have some good free-draining potting mix. Then knock it out of the pot--turn it upside down and hold the plant with one hand while you rap the rim of the pot against the table or wherever you're going to be working. Usually just a good rap or two will knock it loose, but it tends to be pretty messy so I hope you have a nice place outside to do it. Sometimes it takes a little more work to get it out, but don't worry about hurting it. Might even be necessary to run a long thin-bladed knife around the inside of the pot. Cut back any weak or damaged growth. Work the root-ball so you get as much of the old soil off as comes easily, and check to be sure the roots are healthy. You can prune them back, especially if they've circled around the inside of the pot a few times. Be sure you put a little something in the bottom of the pot to be sure all the potting mix doesn't wash out while the roots are getting re-established--I use various things such as scraps of coir from old basket liners, or a wad of long-fibered sphagnum moss; you can also use the liners from meat trays, and I have a friend who swears by used dryer sheets. But don't put a layer of rocks or broken pots or whatever might be suggested for 'drainage'--it actually stops drainage. Put a little potting mix in the bottom of the pot, put your root-ball on it, fill around it and rap it on the bench a few times to settle the soil in well and prevent pockets of air. Don't put very much soil over it, but a little is probably a good idea. Water it in well, and set in the shade to drain. Does that cover what you need to know? And sorry to the original poster who gets to read all this! In the future it's probably a good idea to start a new thread.

I grow my dragon wing begonias in very large buckets, and save them at the end of the season inside a cottage that is heated at 48 degrees throughout the winter in Michigan. I presently have 34 plants that grow to the size shown in the photo. If parts are broken off during the summer, I just stick them in the ground and by fall, I have another plant. Before they are brought in, I spray them to eliminate bugs. I cut the roots and the foliage back to about 8 inches each, put them in large containers that are used to do an oil change on a car, and water them sparingly about twice a month during the winter. When I put them out in the spring, they are still quite small, but they grow very fast!

I think I saw a Vulture yesterday but it could have been our resident Eagle, didn't have my binocks. It was over a favorite Vulture hang out. Gotta make a positive ID before I put it in the books. I hope my Blues are not early I'm going out of town for a long weekend next week.....