The first blooms of spring appear on many twisted and gnarly branches. They make the most interesting and beautiful tabletop arrangements. They are not too fussy and a little wild and quirky. Adding a few flowering branches to a vase and putting it on display center-stage in your home is a perfect way to say good-bye to old man winter and mark the beginning of a new season.
Fresh or Faux?
Fresh or Faux, take your pick, there are a lot of ways to pull this together for a fresh look. Long stems in a simple tall vase are perfect in any décor. Spring blooming branches come in so many colors and there is something for everyone’s interior color scheme.
Both fresh blooms and faux blooms yield benefits making us feel better and more connected to nature too. Flowers improve our mood, reduce stress, and improve our feelings of general well-being. The real thing is optimal but studies have shown that even “analogue” forms in nature such as artificial plants are beneficial to our health.
Read on for ways to work with fresh and faux branches….
How to Force Fresh Blooms on Branches
If fresh is what you are looking for then forcing blooms is the way to go. Forcing the buds to open early by bringing them inside is a way to fool mother nature. If you are lucky enough to have any of these growing in your garden or can borrow some branches pruned from a friend or neighbor’s yard you have all you need to create a beautiful display. There are some great tutorials online to help you through the process. One of my favorites is The Old Farmer’s Almanac. This article has a great overview of forcing, how to prune, and a chart of varieties and the length of time needed to bloom once they are brought indoors. Most spring branches can be forced for early bloom from February through April, depending upon the variety.
Faux Can Be Fabulous too!
If you don’t have any of these available in your garden, don’t have the time or inclination to grow and force blooms but still love the idea of an early spring bouquet this season think faux. Faux florals are a great way to get the look. A-Floral has a nice selection of very realistic branches and floral stems to choose from that will still give you that effect and are easy to arrange.
In The Garden
In case you are loving this idea and thinking that you would like to plant for future years here is an overview of some great options that will look great in the garden too!
Favorite Blooming Branches
Some of my favorites that yield beautiful blooms include:
Witch Hazel
There are fall blooming varieties and spring blooming varieties. Here in the Midwest Ozark Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Vernalis) grows profusely and has shading from reddish-orange to bright yellow flowers that bloom from mid to late winter.
Serviceberry
Delicate white flowers in spring…..
….yield dark purple berries loved by birds. It also has great fall color with vibrant leaves in red and gold.
Spice Bush
Yellow clusters of flowers gets its name from its spicy fragrance, tolerates clay soil, and naturalizes well. Deer resistant.
Eastern Redbud (American Redbud)
Also known as the American Redbud has beautiful reddish-purple-pink buds. The irregular branching and blackish brown pods add winter interest to a naturalized landscape. Beneficial for many birds and draws butterflies.
Flowering Quince
Drought resistant, Attract hummingbirds, not that attractive to deer.
Dogwood (Cornelian Cherry)
Forsythia
Brilliant yellow blooms, attract bees and butterflies, they are fast growing shrubs given enough sunlight.
Crabapple (Malus)
White, fragrant, flowers in spring. Great for a specimen plant in your garden. Click the link to see what’s new for spring!
The above list was selected based upon those species that grow well in the Midwest where I live. It is a good idea to check zone charts to see what grows well in your area too. Some of these may be native to your area and can thrive easily. Others, although not native, can also work with a little help and the right conditions. Once you have a short list remember to plant what you love. It will reward you in so many ways, year after year!
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