Article written by: Kate Marsland, Master Gardener
April is a tough month to be a gardener. After waiting all winter, the weather has warmed up enough in April to go outside, but it's too wet and rainy to do anything. This month we have an activity that will bring spring inside for you to enjoy.
One thing that April showers are good for is getting trees and shrubs ready to bloom. We can speed up this process by cutting some branches and bringing them inside where it's warm. You'll need a bucket half full of water, clippers, a tall vase or jar filled with warm water to arrange your branches in, and most importantly, permission from a grown-up. Take your grown-up outside with you and ask them to help you identify some flowering trees and shrubs in your yard. You might even remember where some are yourself; the ones to look for are forsythia, pussy willow, and flowering trees like crabapple, cherry, and plum. Try to cut branches that are about two feet long and make the cut on the stem where two branches come together. As soon as you make a cut, put the branches into your bucket of water.
When you've cut a bunch, bring them inside. While the branches are still in the bucket, reach in and cut a little off the ends under the water and then put each one in your vase or jar. When you have all your branches in the vase, set it in a warm place that gets some sunlight and start waiting. Put fresh warm water in the vase every day and in a week or two, the buds will swell and burst into bloom. You'll have a beautiful flower arrangement inside while the plants outside are just turning green!
Kid's Corner will be back in October 2003, but that doesn't mean we won't have any fun activities for you! Come visit us in the Master Gardeners' Children's Garden during the Dakota County Fair. This year we're planning a fantasy garden full of fairies; you won't want to miss it!
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