Thanks to Sam Lawrence Tresh & Bill for helpful replies, & anyone else
whose reply may show up later -- & especially to Pam for the explanation
of what causes JM leaves in some years to very occasionally not fall off
come autumn.

I wish I'd asked earlier so I wouldn't've been worrying myself over the
tree throughout the winter!

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/