It hasn’t been a particularly rough winter. A little snow, a little rain. A few very cold days. But nothing very extreme. And yet, I find myself greeting every sign of spring as if I’d just lived through a winter on the northern plains.

I just planted this bush two years ago.

Today, I cut forsythia branches to force into bloom. It sounds so aggressive, ‘forcing’ little yellow blooms. Maybe “coaxing” would be a better word. Either way, if it brings a bit of spring a bit earlier, I’ll do it.

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