Spring is near...only 21 more days.
Hooray! Still, we all know that patience isn't my forté. So, I
decided to force spring's early apearance. Literally.
Nothing heralds spring's arrival like
sweet apple blossoms and forsythia dripping with cheerful blooms.
Although our apple trees are too young, several large forsythia
bushes reside in the gardens—bushes large enough to snip a few
dormant branches without harming their spring show. And those
branches now happily rest in a vase on the mantle, while I check
their progress each day, watching as their tiny buds begin to open.
Forcing flowering branches is a perfect
way to quell your spring fever. I've meant to try it for several
years, but this is the first time I've followed through.
I highly recommend it.
Any flowering shrub or fruit tree is a
good candidate for forcing. Popular among florists include apple,
pear, cherry, quince, pussy willow, witchhazel and, of course,
forsythia. Most of the fruit trees bloom in shades of white or pink,
accompanied by a light, sweet fragrance. Forsythia produces cheerful
yellow, star-shaped blooms.
To bring a bit of spring into your
home, look for branches in the bud stage, making certain that the
flower buds show good size and color. (Flower buds are generally
larger than leaf buds. If you're uncertain, just open the bud to
check.) Clip branches on a mild day in February or March, depending on your zone, to ensure
that the bush experienced an adequate cold period for flowering. Most
flowering trees and shrubs need at least eight weeks of cold (40
degrees F or under). Clip branches so they are at least 12 inches
long or longer, if you have a tall vase, and approximately 1/2-inch
thick. The thicker branches retain stored sugars to support the buds.
Immerse cut ends immediately in water.
To prepare your branches for
arrangement, strip buds and bark from the bottom portion of the
branches that will be submerged in the vase to avoid contaminating
the water and enhancing the vase life. Split the bottom of the stem
four to five inches to improve water absorption. Fill the vase with
tepid water, and arrange the branches. Place the vase in low light.
As the buds begin to show signs of blooming, move the vase to a
brighter area to encourage the buds to open. Change the water, and be
patient. (I know, not easy!)
Also, misting the buds with water can
be beneficial to prevent them from drying out in low humidity.
Branches may take anywhere from a week
to two months to bloom, depending on how close you harvest to their
natural bloom cycle, as well as the types of branches harvested.
Fruit trees tend to take the longest. Once your branches fully bloom,
move the arrangement to an area out of direct light to lengthen vase
life.
After only a few days, I've seen a few
forsythia blooms opening, but I'm anxiously awaiting the onslaught of
spring cheer.
Patience, I know.
While I wait, though, I think I need to
snip a few branches from Kristen's birthday tree. She won't
notice...right?! And maybe I'll put the cherry blossoms in her room.
Maybe.
Only 21 days, friends...we can make it.
Right?
XOXO ~
Julie
