A colleague at work gave me flowers last week.
A little more wilted than you thought?
They’re actually hand-me-down flowers. Her husband gave her a beautiful pot of spring blooms: hyacinths, mini-daffodils and pussy willows.
She had no desire to plant the bulbs now that the flowers are finished blooming, so she passed the pot on to me. I think the flowers will make a beautiful addition to our gardens, but I’m most excited about the pussy willow.
One of the stalks has sprouted.
Pussy willow is my favourite shrub. I’ve always wanted one. I know they root fairly easily. I hope I can keep this stalk alive, so that it will grow into a bush.
Anyone have any tips for growing pussy willow? What’s your favourite spring flower? Do you have bulbs at your house?
Home on 129 Acres 
I guess if I had to pick, tulips would be my all time favorite, but I just love all spring flowers! They are such a happy sight after a long winter. I have only planted narcissus bulbs so far at our house. Every fall I say I am going to plant more bulbs and it never gets done!
Tulips are Matt’s favourite too. I planted a bunch last fall and a lot have sprouted. Now I just hope they bloom! You have to put “tulip bulbs” on your to-do list this fall!
Pussy willows grow fast and large, so plant well away from your foundation! I had to take down our pussy willow tree because the former owners planted it too close to the house and the roots were trying to come through the foundation into the basement! Not ideal…
Thanks for the tip. I hope that this one grows fast and large!
That’s a great idea to plant your colleague’s bulbs. We have many random flowers in our garden that are having second and third lives after starting out as potted plants. We had a curly willow that was sprouting indoors all winter, then died after we planted it outside. I’m pretty sure it’s because we didn’t harden it off – take it outside for a hour the first day, two the second, etc. So maybe try that. Good luck!
Thanks for the tip about hardening off. I hadn’t thought of that. We’re having a cold snap right now, so I brought the pot into the mudroom for the night.
Crocuses are my favorite spring flower because they are the first to bloom and give me a feeling that Spring is finally here! My crocuses didn’t bloom last year which was a let down, but this year they are already open wide to the sun during the day.
I agree. They are such a happy flower. So glad that yours bloomed for you this year!