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Kathy’s Garden Writing |
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“FORCING” FORSYTHIA Iced in last weekend! Snowbound today! I’d be climbing the walls if it weren’t for the forsythia. A magnificent arrangement is gracing my kitchen counter. On a 50 degree day several weeks ago, I wandered around my gardens, optimistically on the look-out for some sign of new life. The plump buds of forsythia branches beckoned, with their prophecy of spring. So in they came, a twiggy sculpture in a majolica pitcher. Little did I know then how grateful I would be for their perfectly-timed metamorphosis. Their sunny presence has brightened up what would have been two dreary weekends in this cruelest of seasons. Forsythia is the most commonly forced shrub, and for good reason. It is one of the easiest and most successful of transformations, even for those with no gardening inclination. “Forcing,” in fact, is a heavy-handed description for the gentle coaxing this plant welcomes. After a six-to-eight week period of cold dormancy, which in this region is anytime from late January on, forsythia can be invited indoors for a gradual introduction to spring-like conditions. On a day above freezing, venture out to clip branches. Quickly bring them into the house and place them in warm water to quench their winter-long thirst, removing submerged buds to prevent rot. A dash of floral preservative or a splash of non-diet citrus soda added to the water will deter the formation of bacteria. Acclimate the skeletal arrangement gradually to the warm indoor air, first in a cool spot, then in a bright warm location. Change or add water as needed to keep the branches healthy and hydrated. In one to two weeks, radiant starbursts will emerge along the length of the stems. On occasion, a branch will be leaf-bearing only, but this green companion offers a lovely foil to the brilliant floral display. Forsythia is described by botanists as an indicator plant, one that tells us about climate conditions, to guide us in our horticultural endeavors. Outdoors, it blooms when soil temperatures reach 45 degrees. Indoors, something different is foretold by its flowering – that spring will indeed melt the frozen world, and that our bleak spirits will soon be warmed by nature’s radiance. Kathleen Arcuri Published February 17, 2008 – The Danville Daily Item |