"Hi Marcie,
I'm afraid Pussywillow is not native to the southeast...hence my ignorance..But I did think i recognized the buds on the limbs...
Always reminds me of a great great song by Gordon Lightfoot called "Pussywillows, Cat tails"…"
"Yes it is pussywillow! And fortunately works this early in Minnesota. Thanks for the comment. By the way, the pussywillow comes from Star Valley Flowers in Wisconsin, they have an excellent variety of twigs and stems for containers and floral…"