I really didn't think that our experiment of forcing leaf buds to open was going to be successful but today when we examined our wild cherry branch it was quite obvious that quite a few of the buds were starting to green up! (Look at top bud in photo) Hooray, and it's only been 5 days. I know that somewhere I had read that higher humidity was helpful and there is no problem there. With the dampness in the basement and the woodstove going down there to dry it out it is quite humid in here :)
We dumped out the old water today which had browned and replaced it with new luke warm sugar water. About 1 1/2 cups of water to 1 heaping Tbsp of white sugar. When we took the branch out we placed it immediately into another jar of water to make sure that the stem didn't get air locked. We have already pounded the stem and cut it and I didn't want to disturb it again by recutting the bottom and perhaps stunting the new growth.
Thank you for the encouragement on the nature journaling! I wish I drew those birds! lol This was a page from my 2005 Weekly Calendar. I had purchased it at Hallmark. I don't know about now, but they used to carry many of her products.
But here is her web site...
http://www.marjoleinbastin.nl/?act=1&lg=uk
My downstairs bathroom is decorated with her note cards and a small windchime my MIL gave to me. I just love them!
Blessings,
Laurie
I think this is cool. And the pic of your leaf bud is so pretty. Oh, who are you on Homsteadblogger? I'm FarmWife. It's probably embarrassing, but I've probably visited you over there and don't even know it. LOL
