Bringing the Outdoors In

Helen Yoest at Smith & Hawkins, Crabtree Valley Mall, Raleig

It seems spring can never come soon enough. Here in Raleigh, spring can last three weeks or three months; I think it is the most unpredictable season and yet, still one of the most anticipated. This is why I suggest bringing spring inside early using some tricks to ‘force’ nature or by using what is readily available from the grocery store, garden centers, and florists (shops.)

Forcing Forsythia Branches

Cut branches when the temperature is above freezing. Look for branches with lots of buds; the flower buds are fatter and larger than leaf buds. I like to cut long branches to give a graceful presence to a table. Follow these steps for great success:

Use sharp pruners to cut your branches. I carry a water bucket with me when I take cuttings from the garden. This way they I can get them to water quickly.

When you cut your branches, consider this as judicious pruning and shape the forsythia bush as you cut.

Once inside, re-cut each branch at a sharp slant and peel or scrape back about an inch of bark or mash the ends with a hammer. Most woody stems need extra surface exposed to help uptake water more readily.

Remove foliage from area that will be under water.

Store in a container with tepid water and an indoor temperature between 60 \ 70 º F.

Change water often.

It is a good idea to mist branches daily, but I often forget and they still seem to turn out nice.

Expect the branches to bloom in 2 – 3 weeks. Once the flower buds begin to swell, arrange in a vase and move into a well-lit room. Blooms will last about a week.

Of course there are many other plants that can be forced and enjoyed indoors such as fruit trees, witch-hazel, pussy willows, flowering quince, bulbs and others. If you forget to force in time or if forcing just sounds like too much trouble, then you will enjoy the following ideas.

Taking advantage of what is readily available from grocery stores, garden centers, and florists There really is nothing like a daffodil to say spring is here! The shops are eager to help you. Often times, shops have already done the forcing for you and have available for purchase bunches of forsythia, witch-hazel, and pussy willow. For a little cost, you get so much enjoyment and most of these purchases last longer than fresh cut flowers.

Bring home blooming forsythia branches and arrange in a vase.

Purchase blooming daffodil, hyacinths and tulips from the Shops.

Bring home blooming witch-hazel and pussy willows.

Bring home blooming flowing quince.

Bring in cut azalea branches. When done sparingly, the leggy look often takes on a Zen-like calming quality in a pretty vase.

Floating Camellias in a bowl is also very refreshing and they last a very long time. Certain species can be cut as branches and arranged in a vase, but most common are varieties that look best floating in a bowl.

Just a little amount can make a huge difference. Nothing says spring more than spring flowers! One vase full of blooming Forsythia, a potted hyacinth, or a handful of daffodils brings the spring inside just enough to, hopefully, carry you through spring.

Helen Yoest, with Gardening with Confidence lives, gardens, coaches, and writes in Raleigh, Zone 7b, www.GardeningWithConfidence.com

Helen  Yoest is a garden writer, speaker and garden coach through her business Gardening with Confidence™.

Follow Helen on Twitter @HelenYoest and her facebook Friend’s page, Helen Yoest; or facebook Like page, Gardening With Confidence™

Helen is a field editor for Better Homes and Gardens and Country Gardens magazine and she also serves on the board of advisors for the JC Raulston Arboretum.