Branches, bulbs, blooms and more ways to bring spring into your home

Spring may have officially arrived, but it hasn't yet ushered in the warm weather that we've been longing for in most parts of Canada. It's easy to become impatient at this time of year as we anticipate that familiar chirp of the robin and all those little harbingers of spring, like snowdrops and crocuses. While we wait for Mother Nature to indulge us with spring temperatures and the resulting blooms, there are a few ways to bring a feeling of spring indoors.

Give spring-blooming branches a nudge

At first glance, spring-blooming trees and shrubs may look barren and still in hibernation mode, but take a closer look and you'll see buds, just waiting to burst open when the temperature is right. Snip a few to bring indoors and they'll reward you with an early bloom. This process is called forcing and it can be done with all types of spring bloomers, like forsythia, dogwood, crabapple, magnolia and cherry.

All you need is a sharp pair of pruners. Head out into the yard and snip a few branches of varying heights, making sure not to take them all from one area — you don't want any obvious bare spots come spring! Then, when you get the branches inside, make a few small cuts around the base of each or give the ends a gentle bash with a hammer. Place your bunch in a vase with warm water on a table that gets indirect sunlight. In a week (or two or three) they will start to flower.

Display potted bulbs

Spring-blooming bulbs, like hyacinth, miniature daffodils, and muscari, can also be forced indoors for an early spring bloom time. Bulbs need to be chilled in the late fall/early winter and then slowly warmed up (there are lots of helpful DIYs online to guide you), but if you didn't have the foresight to do this, many nurseries and flower shops offer potted bulbs at this time of year. Bring them home and transfer them to a bigger pot (grab a bag of potting soil while you're out), which allows you to accessorize your potted arrangement with items such as reindeer moss or pussy willow branches if you wish.

Grow a few windowsill herbs

Garden-fresh produce may be lacking at this time of year, but you can bring a few tasty flavours into your kitchen. Grow a few herbs on your windowsill or kitchen table (make sure that spot gets at least six to eight hours of sunlight a day) to handily snip while you're cooking. Start them from seed or purchase a little pot that's gotten a head start from your local garden centre. Many grocery stores also sell potted herbs (as well as pots of lettuce) — a great alternative to the little plastic containers or gigantic bunches that are a challenge to finish before they start to rot. Look for favourites that you shop for frequently, such as basil, parsley, cilantro and rosemary. Keep them well watered (being careful not to overwater) and snip frequently to encourage growth. Tip: Herbs can also add texture and fragrance to flower arrangements.

Make your spring feast centrepiece from spring bloom

Channel your inner florist by assembling your own materials and creating a stunning centrepiece for an Easter or spring-themed dinner. Use a flower frog (an old-fashioned device that sits in the bottom of your vase to hold flowers upright). This will also help you space out flowers in your arrangement, allowing you to take a step back as you place each stem and figure out what should go in next. Think a lush grouping of fresh-cut spring flowers, like ranunculus, tulips and daffodils, spring-flowering branches, some foliage and perhaps a few branches of pussy willows or cotton.

Bring back those freshly cut flowers

There's something quite lovely about filling a vase full of fresh flowers each week, but it can be a habit that falls off in the winter. A bout of spring fever is the perfect excuse to visit your favourite florist again. As the season progresses, the choice evolves from spring-blooming bulbs, to lilacs and peonies, to roses and dahlias. While it's fun to jazz things up with foliage like a florist might, a fresh-cut bunch of tulips or daffodils don't always need a sidekick. Simply unwrap your bouquet, trim the ends and place in water that's at room temperature. Have fun with your vase. Take a look through your cupboards for under-appreciated pitchers, an old fishbowl or a grouping of mason jars.

Tara Nolan is a freelance writer who covers gardening, decor, travel, and cycling, mountain biking and other outdoor adventures for a variety of publications. She is also one quarter of the popular gardening website Savvy Gardening.