Matcha Ball Ash Leaf Spirea - Early Leaf-Out - April 2025

In the Fall of 2023, I planted a pair of fern-like shrubs called Matcha Ball Ash Leaf Spirea.  One in the front porch bed and one in the backyard - in the kitchen-curved bed.    The one if front appears to have been lost, but the one in back has ALREADY leaf'd out.  In a funny way.  The tips are full of leaves.  And the base is full of leaves.  But, the stems are a little bare.  See below for the current shape of this small shrub:

This shrub behaved oddly last year - with a bud-burst in November.  Yes...November.  Late in the year, when the temps were dropping.  

And, I documented some (dang!) rabbit damage on this thing this past Winter.  I'm pretty sure *that* is the reason for the odd growth pattern this year.