Tired of winter, I decided I needed some flowers, some color, to give me a lift. So I cut some Forsythia branches to force into bloom in the house. A total no-brainer here: I cut the branches, brought them inside, stuffed them in a vase and added water. One week and several water changes later and voila: oodles of color. This photo has not been photoshopped.
I just put a piece of very bright pink poster board behind the vase. Now that's just what I needed.
I just put a piece of very bright pink poster board behind the vase. Now that's just what I needed.
16 comments:
I'd love to find a spot for a forsythia here. I've missed having one. I've missed the forced branches and how gorgeous they look outside when they're in their full-blooming glory.
Beautiful Forsythia photos.....and a clever play on the word, as well!
Lovely, good idea with the pink!
Frances at Faire Garden
Lintys - I surprised that your neighbors don't have one. It seems like every other yard around here has them. You're fortunate to have a great selection of cultivars now, from 2 ft-tall groundcovers to 10-ft beasts like mine. Both Forsythias came with the house, but the good thing about them, aside from the flowers, is that whatever mine are the leaves turn purple in Fall.
Connie - thanks! I just couldn't resist the pun as I was labeling one of the photos "forced Forsythia."
Frances - I'd like to try a photo with a purple background, but all I had hanging around was the pink. It's my daughter's for her Webkinz house.
Clever title! You've thought of a nice way to bring Spring indoors. I couldn't put a name to the flower when I first saw it. I should get closer to them when they're blooming outdoors. Your blog is looking very Spring-y! :-)
This is a good way to jump start spring. I, just yesterday, brought in some forsythia stems and stuck them in with some pussy willows. Fun Fun...Seeing yours makes me anxious to see some more yellow in the garden.
I'm with ya, there. Tired of winter, too!
Lovely pun, MrMcG's Daughter!
I don't see them around here - maybe they need a dormant period like lilacs and peonies?
Back when I used to Force-ythia myself, we were told that the closer the shrub was to blooming, the quicker they'd open inside. Forcing was also used to test whether the buds were damaged by cold - your branches prove that when spring arrives you'll have lots of those lovely golden bells.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
OH! So lovely. I do miss all my forsythia at my former home and garden. Hmmm..... I may have to do something about that!
Thx for stopping by my blog!
Carol
terranovadesign.blogspot.com
They're all over the neighborhood here, just not the same as having one right here in my own backyard. (I don't think my neighbors would appreciate me stopping by with my Felcos for some branches to force-ythia!) Same thing with pussy willows. Yes, I think I need some of those too.
You have inspired me to venture out into the snow and ice and snip a few pussywillows! I don't have a forsythia, although, every year I swear I'm going to plant one. Perhaps this will be the year.
Every year I say I'm going to do this and I never do. Ours are already in full bloom. Spring is here!
Shady Gardener - very soon (hopefully) my garden will also look very Spring-y!
Lisa - I bet your forced branches will open in only a couple of days, as the ones outside can't be too far from blooming.
Sissy - winter's over - the Tulips & Daylilies are sprouting!
Annie - either Forsythia needs cold or there are too many great zone 7 & higher shrubs to grow in Austin. At the same time as I cut the Forsythia, I pruned my Crabapple, so I put a couple of those branches in the vase also. I can't tell if they'll bloom, as it is so far from their bloom time.
Cabs/Carol - Go for it! I wish I didn't have Forsythia already, as I'd get one of the new variegated forms or one of the 5 footers.
Lintys - I probably wouldn't notice if the neighbors did snag a few branches for themselves! But your point about wanting your own to cut is probably the explanation for the prevalence of them.
Giddy - watch your step! Pussy willows are so pretty.
Phillip - Did Spring sneak up on you? That rarely happens around here as we keep scouring the ground & the air for any sign of Spring. The thing I always forget about until it's too late is dividing the Colchicum.
Thanks for a breath of spring - clever title/gorgeous photo... Deb
Splendid idea, great photo
Tyra - thanks for visiting & thanks for the compliments!
Post a Comment