Inspired by Donna at Garden’s Eye View, about three weeks ago, I cut a few forsythia branches and brought them indoors to force into winter bloom. This is something I do almost every year in late February or March, so I’ll have yellow blossoms for Easter, but this is the first year I’ve brought any in so early in the winter. To my delight, it worked, and today I made an arrangement featuring some of those stems. The flowers are nearly, but not quite completely open.
One stem was quite long and looked awkward in the vase, so I cut it in half just above a bloom, and made two stems out of one.
I used some of my reddish-purple coleus cuttings to contrast nicely with the yellow flowers. I think it creates a richer display than the lighter green leaves would have. 
I also cut two stems out of my shamrock plant to add a bit more red to the mix. These leaves close at night, so I’ll be interested to see whether they re-open tomorrow morning in the vase.
Now, here is an update on the vase I filled two weeks ago, with Pieris Japonica buds. My friend from sorta like suburbia wondered whether they would bloom, and the answer is yes, indeed they will! Several of the buds have opened, showing the flowers that give this plant its nickname “Lily of the Valley Shrub.” 
The Pieris made a lovely, long-lasting vase. I’m glad I thought to bring some inside and must remember to do it again next year!
With twelve inches of new snow on the ground, a strong wind, and temperatures hovering in the upper teens, it was a delight to play with flowers and think of spring today! 
Thanks so much to Cathy of Rambling in the Garden fame for hosting the weekly In a Vase on Monday party, which has encouraged me and many other bloggers to try things we perhaps might not have otherwise! 
How very pretty, and how nice to see some spring already flowering in your house! I’m glad the forsythia has already opened for you. I tried to bring some in to force last year, but nothing happened. I’m not sure what I did or didn’t do correctly. I’ll have to read up on it again I think. Thanks for inspiring me to try again! -Beth
I am glad you managed to put such a pretty vase together with all that snow on the ground! I really must cut a bit more Forsythia to force as it is such a cheerful colour. I like the combination with the coleus and pinky shamrock leaves. 🙂
Thank you for the link love Kimberley. I love how you showed off your forsythia with the coleus. I must remember to grow some and bring it in next year for winter vases. I am hoping to get out and cut some more forsythia for later. But we had about 2 feet of snow yesterday with wind and bitter cold with 4 ft drifts so it is hard to get out there right now. I agree, this meme has added to my winter joy and creative ideas.
Your arrangement is a lovely promise of spring in the middle of winter! The vase is perfect too!
I was intrigued to see your header included today’s vase – such co-ordination! And seeing forsythia in people’s vases recently makes me appreciate it rather more than I might have done as in the UK it is often seen as a neglected woody shrub in the gardens of non-gardeners! The coleus and shamrock leaves are the perfect foil for it in your vase. So glad your pieris is justifying being picked! Thanks for braving your snow to join in 🙂
Cathy, WordPress has a handy little feature that allows you to choose a “Featured Image” for each post. If you use WordPress (and I think you do?), look over to the right and near the bottom of the page where you write your posts, and it should have a box to click on labeled “Set Featured Image.” It’s a nice touch, and I’m glad you told me you noticed it! (It shows up only when you click on a specific post; it does not change the header for your site overall.)
Oh Kimberley, that’s really interesting – I have seen the button, but I didn’t know what it would do and I didn’t want to completely change my normal image. If it’s a one off and just for that post I might do that sometimes – thanks 🙂
Haha, I think that’s a car under all that! Yes, being inside is a wise choice for these snowy days 🙂
What a good idea putting those coleus cuttings to work like that, and I love the pieris and forsythia opening up inside! I usually save the forsythia for Easter, but I might have to bring some early birds in too.