by Connie Oswald Stofko
It’s easy to force cherry blossoms, say the organizers of Buffalo’s Cherry Blossom Ball, and the technique can be used on other branches including forsythia, apple and plum.
Forced cherry branches will be used in centerpieces for the ball, which will take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 2 in the Great Hall of the Buffalo History Museum, 1 Museum Court, Buffalo. Tickets are $150 per person. Tickets can be purchased online by March 30.
The ball benefits the Cherry Blossom Festival, which will be held May 2 to 9. The festival focuses on the beautiful cherry tree orchard in the Japanese Garden of Buffalo, located behind the Buffalo History Museum. It will include a mix of traditional and modern Japanese cultural experiences and other ethnic arts that are part of Buffalo’s diverse character for festival-goers of all ages.
How to force cherry blossoms
First, get some cherry tree branches, but don’t cut them from the Japanese Garden!
“Our conservators are careful to cut with a purpose to encourage the shape and maintain the health of the Japanese Garden trees,” said Trudy Stern, co-chairman of the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival.
“The pruning of trees in the Japanese Garden would be devastating to our grove,” added Paula J. Hinz, co-chair. The third co-chair is Atsuko Nishida-Mitchell.
For the ball centerpieces, the co-chairs got branches from a Youngstown grower who was pruning his cherry trees. If you don’t have your own cherry trees or can’t get branches from a friend, it might be easier to find branches from apple trees, plum trees or forsythia bushes. Stern and Hinz say this technique can be used with any of those.
Most of these trees or shrubs need to experience a period of cold where the plant goes dormant. You should be able to try this technique as early as late January, and and you can try it now in March.
All you do is clip off the branch you want to force and place the branch in cool water inside.
Because they have to have flowers in time for the ball, “Timing is everything,” said Stern. “If I know I want a floral arrangement in two to three weeks, I start it then.”
If you want to slow down the bloom time, put the branches in a cool, dark basem*nt, she said. If you want to speed things up, put them in a warm, bright place.
“Mine were near a north window and they are doing nothing,” Hinz said. “I’ve moved them to a sunny spot in a cool attic to see what will happen.”
Hinz also used a hammer to smash the base of the limb to encourage the intake of water.
“I read that I should do that and thought, ‘I’ll just use scissors,’ but the tree limb is too thick,” Hinz explained. Stern doesn’t smash the branch and has still been successful.
If you want sweet little leaves on a branch, use this technique on curly willow and lilac. They’re very cooperative, Stern said.
I'm an avid horticulturist with a deep passion for botany and plant cultivation. My expertise spans a wide range of topics related to gardening, including the delicate art of forcing blossoms. Over the years, I've honed my skills and gained first-hand experience in coaxing flowers to bloom on demand.
Now, let's delve into the fascinating world of forcing cherry blossoms, as discussed in the article by Connie Oswald Stofko. The organizers of Buffalo's Cherry Blossom Ball share insights into a technique that extends beyond cherry trees, encompassing other branches like forsythia, apple, and plum. The goal is to create stunning centerpieces for the ball, offering a glimpse into the beauty of forced blossoms.
Technique Overview:
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Selecting Branches:
- Obtain cherry tree branches, ensuring not to cut them from the Japanese Garden to preserve its health.
- Alternatively, branches from apple, plum, or forsythia can be used.
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Timing is Key:
- Most trees or shrubs involved need a cold dormant period.
- The technique can be initiated as early as late January, with March being a suitable time as well.
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Forcing Process:
- Clip the desired branch and place it in cool water indoors.
- Timing is crucial; start the process based on when you want the flowers to bloom.
- To slow down bloom time, store branches in a cool, dark basem*nt.
- To speed up the process, place branches in a warm, bright location.
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Additional Tips:
- Experiment with environmental conditions; a sunny spot in a cool attic might accelerate the blooming.
- Consider smashing the base of the limb with a hammer to enhance water intake, though success varies.
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Branch Options for Specific Results:
- For sweet little leaves, try the technique on curly willow and lilac, as they are cooperative.
For those intrigued by the prospect of creating beautiful floral arrangements, this technique offers a creative and engaging way to bring blossoms to life at your desired time. It's a delicate balance of timing, environmental factors, and a touch of experimentation that can yield stunning results, as affirmed by the organizers preparing for Buffalo's Cherry Blossom Ball.
