Signs of Spring...or "Forcing the Issue"

This weekend we enjoyed snow-less days, in fact the snow has just about melted away!! (See the mountains still have a little snow.)
It rained some on Saturday, but Sunday was bright and pretty! And even though the temps were in the low 40's, it looked and felt like spring was on its way!

I dared to get out and walk around the yard and found green peeking out here and there......

.....a sweetpea was breaking through the ground. (yes, I know they are annuals, but they just keep coming back each year!)
......a strawberry plant survived the winter. (I really need to get out in the garden and rake when it warms up!)

And in the latest issue of Country Home (March 2008) there is a short article about forcing flowering shrubs indoors. So, since our pear tree needed a little trim....my husband clipped some branches and brought in a few so we could try to "force" a little spring into our home.

Now, I love my outdoor garden of flowers and herbs, but I've never been able to keep an indoor plant alive! I've tried the pretty English Ivy, it became infested with little flies and died. Once I was given amaryllis and it didn't even bloom. This February 14th I was given a miniature rose plant by a dear lady, and so far I've managed not to kill it. I'm hoping it survives until it can be planted outside....where it has a better chance!

So, we'll see how these "sticks" (as my sons called them) look in about 4 weeks!

Happy Hopes of Spring to You!!