It may be that buds in winter are 'on pause' and they are in fact prepared to protect their contents in the changeable spring weather.
Tag - Juglandaceae
Juniper Kiss
Heterodichogamy and thrips-pollination in Platycarya strobilacea
Platycarya strobilacea (Juglandaceae) is heterodichogamous - based on observations of inflorescence architecture, sexual expression and pollination biology.
botanyone