This year’s warm Winter is translating to an early Spring. Both daffodil gardens at Ann’s Place are beginning to show their colors so if you are in the neighborhood you should drop by to take a look. If you are new to AP, one swath is in the back yard area near one of the sculptures. The other is over the chain-link fence to the right as you enter the property.
Consider a taking singular and self-reflective walk around our labyrinth as you view the patterns of blooming narcissus.
Getting outside is healthy and happy. And one of the best things to do this week is to cut a variety of bushes and trees for forcing. A common stem that is at the top of the list is forsythia (Forsythia Vahl) with its delicate yellow flowers. But there are lots others including:
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Flowering quince (Chaenomeles japonica)
Crabapple (Malus sylvestris)
Pussy willow (Salix discolor)
Red maple (Acer rubrum)
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)
Here is a picture of a collection of pussy willows, forsythia, crabapple, flowering quince and eastern redbud that my wife Juana and I put together. (OK, I cheated and got the pussy willows from Trader Joe’s.)
Typically there is different timings to cut branches to force. But the current spate of hot weather is causing everything to come out at the same time. Two good articles on the web for more detailed info and techniques are the Farmer’s Almanac and Fine Gardening.
But here is my quick and dirty way of doing it.
1) Get a pair of clean pruners and go out when the temperature is above freezing. Early sunny afternoons when the temperatures are the highest are best.
2) Look for branches with distinctive buds or leaves that are emerging. There is lots of things out there leafing out. My butterfly bushes already have leaves that are ½ inch large.
3) Cut branches on the diagonal 12-inches to 24-inches depending upon the size of vase you want to use. Try to cut branches that would be trimmed anyway and not ones that will compromise the shape of the plant.
4) Bring branches inside immediately placing them into water.
5) Fill up your vase with room temperature water.
6) Select your branches and cut again on the diagonal also making two thin, 1-inch vertical cuts on the branch’s bottom that will be placed in water. These cuts facilitate water transport. If branch is too thin or you don’t trust yourself, skip this step. No lost fingers here!
7) Place branches in water, tallest in the center. Arrange to taste.
8) Put vase in indirect light away from heat. If house is very dry, mist every day so buds don’t fall off. Change water every 2-3 days to minimize bacteria and rot.
If you do this, you should get flowers and lovely Spring green leaves in anywhere from one to three weeks.