can spring be far behind?

On January 17, I clipped some branches from bushes in an open field to use for drawing studies ofby Renee Warren dormant buds. After completing my studies, I left the branches in a jar of water and then pretty much forgot about them. So I was very surprised to see them sprouting little green leaf shoots on Feburary 4. I presume this is a response to the warmth of the house. Although the branches were in a southwest facing room, they were out of direct sunlight and certainly were receiving less light than they would have in the open field. What a welcome early sign of spring!

Coming soon: my review of Summer World by Bernd Heinrich.