Starting in February 2011, we again attempted to force a wisteria into early bloom for an art show reception on March 20th. We also pushed two small Chinese Elms that have been dragged into the warmth in case we need some decorations on a sculpture table or whatever. The elms and one wisteria are in original pots made by Yours Truly for an additional warm fuzzy.

The elms were brought into approximately 50ºF unheated space after Christmas; then moved into a warmer but still fairly cool area the weekend of January 29th. The wisteria was lifted out of its outdoor winter quarters with considerable difficulty on February 6th. The previous weeks had large amounts of snow, finished off with a half inch ice glaze from freezing rain. The pots, embedded in shredded cedar bark mulch, were encased in a concrete-like casing of ice and bark. With some help from Ma Nature at several degrees above freezing, and judicious use of warm water, we were able to uncover and lift the pot after incremental efforts spread over four or five hours.

After about ten days of little bud swell on the first wisteria, we had that feeling of deja vue all over again; bloom buds open before leaf buds and this delayed action suggested we might get no flowers. So we brought in a second wisteria and kept it in a warmer part of the house in the hope we could "fast track" it in the time remaining. This second plant is not as interesting shape-wise but has had a better track record of blooming. Happily, the fast tracking worked!