pussy willows

Even though it is the middle of February it is starting to feel a lot like spring around here.  Boy am I ready!  The older I get the better the idea of becoming a snowbird heading south sounds.  This time of year you can cut branches of pussy willow, forsythia, spirea and quince, bring them inside, put them in water in a warm room and wait for the branches to bloom.  Just look at the branches to see if the buds have started swelling.  I took this picture three days after I had brought the branches in and you can already see the white catkins begining to show.  Instant Spring.