Blossoms-to-be

BUDS

They’re the tight little promises of spring before petals unfurl on a branch.

"Blossoms-to-be" is a straightforward definition clue pointing to the early stage of a flower before it opens. The answer "BUDS" fits because buds are the small, undeveloped parts of a plant that eventually bloom into flowers. There’s no hidden wordplay here—it’s a direct hint about something that will become blossoms later. Think of a rosebush in spring, where the tight little buds are the promise of future flowers.