Cut and Forced Flowers – Heirloom Gardener

One of my early posts on Heirloom Gardener was “Creating Space for a Garden: the Cutting Garden” in which I wrote about transforming the small 15×30 foot side yard from an unused space into a delightful little Cutting Garden.

These past few weeks have been a joy in the Cutting Garden, as the tulips (pictured) have begun to bloom.

Fresh cut tulips bring such great joy throughout my home, as well as to the homes of my friends, and the variety that you are able to grow at home is so much more amazing than what you can purchase.

And, as I mentioned in my Ten Tips for Planning a Children’s Garden, I plant enough in the Cutting Garden that my children can cut as many tulips as they wish without me worrying that they’ve cut too many.

Lastly, growing them in the fenced-in Cutting Garden protects them from the deer (though not the squirrels and chipmunks), that I wrote about in What I’ve Learned About Growing Tulips in New Jersey.

Freshly Cut Crocuses from the Garden

March 26, 2009April 16, 2017 julia erickson10 Comments

In my post on Ten Tips for Planning a Children’s Garden, tip #6 was “Allow [the children] to cut flowers…They love making vases for our home and to give to friends.” The children have been making vases of the snowdrops and winter aconite for a few weeks now, but just this week, enough of the crocuses that I posted for March’s Bloom Day are starting to blossom that they have begun to cut them too. For these small, early spring bulbs, I like using bud vases like the ones pictured that you can place all around the house.

Beautiful Display of Forced Ceris Branches

March 17, 2009April 16, 2017 julia erickson3 Comments

Of all of my forced branches this season, this display of ceris Forest Pansy branches is the highlight. About three weeks ago, I cut about eight branches three to four feet in length. The first week, little appeared to be happening. The second week, the buds really began to swell. And this week, I was rewarded with this beautiful display. For a close-up of the flowers, click here.

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day February 2009: Picture of Forced Magnolia Branches

February 14, 2009April 16, 2017 julia erickson11 Comments

Well, aside from a few more of the snow drops that I photographed for last month’s Garden Bloggers‘ Bloom Day, there is nothing that is blooming outside in the garden. Inside, I have moved on to forcing branches, which I wrote about in this post last week. Above, is a picture of a one of the magnolia blooms currently in my family room. I can’t wait until next month for the garden to start showing more signs of spring. Check out all of the bloom day posts from around the world over at May Dreams Garden.

Calendar For Forcing Branches: When to Cut Various Flowering Branches for Forcing

February 2, 2009April 16, 2017 julia erickson8 Comments

By February, my home is devoid of lingering Christmas decorations and most of my forced bulbs are done. At this point, I turn to the outside once again to bring a little bit of spring into the house: I begin forcing various branches from the garden.
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I try to cut branches at least the diameter of a dime in mid afternoon when it’s warmest. I immediately place the branches in warm water with a floral additive. You can also make the floral additive with a little bleach, sugar, and lemon juice. For a half gallon of water, I would add 4 tablespoons of lemon, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon bleach. The closer to the natural bloom time the more quickly branches will force.
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During February and early March, I go out about every seven to ten days for branches. My order of forcing is generally as follows:
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Forsythia (can be started from early January)
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Pussywillow (pictured)
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Red twig dogwood