First of buds imminent in flower (8)
I believe the answer is:
blooming
'in flower' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'first of buds imminent' is the wordplay.
'first of buds' becomes 'b' (1st letter of 'buds').
'imminent' becomes 'looming' (I've seen this in another clue).
'b'+'looming'='BLOOMING'
(Other definitions for blooming that I've seen before include "Healthy -- flowering" , "Looking healthy" , "Euphemistic expletive - in flower" , "Blossoming" .)