An Easter Surprise

A couple of months ago I dragged home some interesting lichen covered branches.  They sat in the garden (most of them are still out there on a bench) until finally, last week, I attempted to use them in an arrangement. You can see it here if you missed it. Not the best arrangement ever nor the best use of the cool branches which were certainly dead.  The vase was left in the butler's pantry where, on Saturday night, after returning from Easter Vigil, what should those branches be doing?

Coming back to life!  I'm imagining that this is an ornamental crab apple of some sort based on a dried brown fruit left on part of one of the branches.

Will the buds open?

I'll keep you posted!