A few weeks ago, on a snowy Sunday afternoon, I popped over to Ryan’s parents’ farm and cut a few branches off the ornamental crabapples and the fruit trees out back. The buds on the crabapple are just starting to pop.

Especially on a moody grey day like today, that hint of color and freshness makes me smile.

Remember, if you’re forcing woody stems, bang on the bottoms with a hammer or slice into the stems vertically so the vascular systems can absorb water. Also, try placing the stems in a short vase or a whiskey glass. Then, pour some small decorative rocks in around the branches to secure them and just add water. In these shallow vessels, the branch forms become living sculptures.

forced crabapple branches

Related posts:

1. My fingers are olive branches…
2. Look at that face.
3. Vase Mania - Jars for Joy
4. Kieran Egan on water in Zen Gardens