The first week in the new year is something that I have always enjoyed. It is a great time to go into the garden and start planning. It seems like the latter part of the year is a wind down in the garden, but once the new year has started the planning can begin again. It starts though with getting a jump on spring color by bringing in a few branches of forsythia or other early blooming shrub to force inside. This year I have a few forsythia and some winter honeysuckle which has already come into fragrant bloom after just a day or two inside.
Winter Scenes
Forsythia is still pretty unusual up here in Alaska, but my neighbor has one and it is delightful in spring. The earliest blooming shrub/tree is willow. I have already seen some specimens sporting their “pussy willows” are they are called here. The kids love to pet them. I should bring some inside, thanks for the reminder!
Christine B.