I saw some taller ones today which looked like they were growing back from about snow cover level.

My dynamite and whatever that other one is both seem pretty dead. It might take a few more weeks though to be sure.

Multi-stem Natchez here is ~8 ft tall, but no budding yet. It usually dies back at least some every winter.

Thanks Toronado and Beng, I have Seven sons flower, which is called the northern substitute for Crepe Myrtle. I also have a Spicebush, which had ONE flower this spring. It is still there, looking rather strange. The Seven son Flower may get beautiful and all that, but the Crepe Myrtle may be worth a try. Maybe I am not bringing out the best of the Seven son and spricebush either. These are shrubs, but the Crepe is sort of tree-like, and I may not get an answer right away on the shrub site. I realize that Crepes are slow to come to life in zone 6 ish. Tornoda and beng let me know if yours leaf out later, or sooner.