A week or so ago, I was…

A week or so ago, I was excited to see these forsythia branches at the grocery store. So early! They just had a bloom or two on them, but lots of buds, and I had faith that they'd flower eventually. It took a little longer than I expected (maybe because it's been so cold, and we don't keep our house all that warm?), but they're finally coming out now, a warm contrast to the chilly world you can see reflected in that mirror.

I planted a forsythia shrub last year, so I could have just harvested from there, but mine is still small enough that I didn't want to denude it completely -- in a year or two, hopefully. I'd like to add some more spring-flowering shrubs -- we have a redbud tree (also still relatively new, so going to give it a little while), but I'd like to find spots (in my crowded yard) to tuck in others -- my wish list includes flowering quince and mock orange. (I love the scent of the latter.)

I do already have viburnum, azalea, rhododendron, fothergilla, spirea, and lilac -- anyone know if those can be cut and brought in for late winter forcing? (Not yet -- I'm sure there aren't any buds on them yet! But eventually.) I've never actually tried forcing branches from my own yard, but I'm eager to experiment...