Do you recall the cause of the willow's demise and have you had any other woody plants die in the vicinity recently? Have you dug any of the affected plants up to look at the roots?
Sometimes it happens that extra early scapes bloom low and HH is registered as M, is this when you would normally expect it to flower? That would not explain the dwindling foliage though or the drying buds.
There is some mottling on the leaves but the picture isn't clear enough to see if that is thrips damage, something else, or a camera effect. If there actually is something there, can you post a close-up? The bud (and perhaps scape) appear to have damage that is typically attributed to thrips.
I notice you also have daylily leafminer but it shouldn't be causing that problem.
