Nature & Books belong to the eyes that see them.
- Emerson
April 2, 2007
Forsythia
Forsythia is pure joy. There is not an ounce, not a glimmer of saddness or even knowledge in forsythia. Pure, undiluted, untouched joy. ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Around here it seems to be hit and miss if the forsythe look good or straggly. Last spring they were beautiful. This year - it's a bit too early to tell. When it's a good year they are glorious. Yours are beautiful.
Booklogged - We cut ours way back a couple of years ago and didn't get any flowers last year. It's nice to see the cheery yellow again, but these shrubs do get a bit wild if they're not pruned every year right after they bloom.
Stephanie - Thank you!
Kookiejar - I'd never seen them until we moved to the Midwest. They are such a part of spring around here.
Heather - Thanks! And I have to tell you I really like your new profile picture! Gorgeous.
I had a friend in college named Cynthia who loved forsythia. We always nicknamed it "forcynthia." Every time I see it I think of her. It's such a beautiful plant; I once used it for my Easter tree. Do you make one? Where you hang Easter ornaments up? I have beautiful wooden ones from Germany, but I haven't put them out for years, since my son got past that stage. Now I wonder if it's worth the effort just for myself and my husband.
Nope, I don't use forsythia for an Easter tree. I have a dozen or so handpainted eggs that my great grandmother painted years ago that I put on a metal "tree" I bought at Hallmark several years ago. However, it's been a few years since I've put it out. No little ones at home, and now that we have a cat, I'm not sure where I could put it that it would be safe! Other than putting out a picture of Amy & Rachel (when they were little girls), I really don't decorate for Easter.
Your pictures are just beautiful, Les, what wouldn't I give to see sprays of those flowers around here. I went for a walk this morning and the daffodils are only just starting to push up from under the soil...it will be a while before we see bursts of spring colors around here, in the meantime, your wonderful pictures will keep me company!
Hi Lotus! Thanks for the compliment. I got lucky and was able to get some pictures before the cold snap. Most of the bulbs, flowering shrubs and trees have been hit hard with the freezing temps. Very sad. I'll be surprised if the lilacs bloom this year. My tulips all bloomed one day and now they're lying flat on the cold ground. :(
I'm thinking of planting some forsythia somewhere around our house - I just love the color, especially in spring when everything else is still so drab.
Lesley - It's quite pretty. I just wished it stayed yellow longer. I think ours quickly turned to green in about a week. And, if you don't already know, you have to prune it right after the yellow blooming cycle, otherwise it won't bloom the following year (if you prune it say, two weeks later). Ours gets pretty raggedy, so we do a major pruning job once every 3 or 4 years. Last time, we waited too late so we didn't get the gorgeous yellow blooms until two years later.
Around here it seems to be hit and miss if the forsythe look good or straggly. Last spring they were beautiful. This year - it's a bit too early to tell. When it's a good year they are glorious. Yours are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThose pictures are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteStephanie
www.thewrittenword.wordpress.com
Thanks, Lesley. I see those all over the place and didn't know what they were called. Now I know. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI loooove forsythia. Especially when it's allowed to run wild. It's just so beautiful like that. Great pictures Les!
ReplyDeleteBooklogged - We cut ours way back a couple of years ago and didn't get any flowers last year. It's nice to see the cheery yellow again, but these shrubs do get a bit wild if they're not pruned every year right after they bloom.
ReplyDeleteStephanie - Thank you!
Kookiejar - I'd never seen them until we moved to the Midwest. They are such a part of spring around here.
Heather - Thanks! And I have to tell you I really like your new profile picture! Gorgeous.
How lovely! My favorite spring bloom and my favorite poet!
ReplyDeleteRobin - Thanks. I think they're very pretty, but I'd have to say that daffodils are my favorite spring bloom.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend in college named Cynthia who loved forsythia. We always nicknamed it "forcynthia." Every time I see it I think of her. It's such a beautiful plant; I once used it for my Easter tree. Do you make one? Where you hang Easter ornaments up? I have beautiful wooden ones from Germany, but I haven't put them out for years, since my son got past that stage. Now I wonder if it's worth the effort just for myself and my husband.
ReplyDeleteBellezza - Cute story!
ReplyDeleteNope, I don't use forsythia for an Easter tree. I have a dozen or so handpainted eggs that my great grandmother painted years ago that I put on a metal "tree" I bought at Hallmark several years ago. However, it's been a few years since I've put it out. No little ones at home, and now that we have a cat, I'm not sure where I could put it that it would be safe! Other than putting out a picture of Amy & Rachel (when they were little girls), I really don't decorate for Easter.
Your pictures are just beautiful, Les, what wouldn't I give to see sprays of those flowers around here. I went for a walk this morning and the daffodils are only just starting to push up from under the soil...it will be a while before we see bursts of spring colors around here, in the meantime, your wonderful pictures will keep me company!
ReplyDeleteHi Lotus! Thanks for the compliment. I got lucky and was able to get some pictures before the cold snap. Most of the bulbs, flowering shrubs and trees have been hit hard with the freezing temps. Very sad. I'll be surprised if the lilacs bloom this year. My tulips all bloomed one day and now they're lying flat on the cold ground. :(
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of planting some forsythia somewhere around our house - I just love the color, especially in spring when everything else is still so drab.
ReplyDeleteLesley - It's quite pretty. I just wished it stayed yellow longer. I think ours quickly turned to green in about a week. And, if you don't already know, you have to prune it right after the yellow blooming cycle, otherwise it won't bloom the following year (if you prune it say, two weeks later). Ours gets pretty raggedy, so we do a major pruning job once every 3 or 4 years. Last time, we waited too late so we didn't get the gorgeous yellow blooms until two years later.
ReplyDelete