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Nothing lifts the spirits as much as the sight of a few branches of golden forsythia, coral-colored quince or creamy pear blossoms. Branches of spring-flowering trees are easy to force for indoor display. You can force almost any spring-blooming tree or shrub from mid-January or early February on.
Follow these simple steps to bring the outdoors in long before spring:

1. Select the appropriate branches. Experiment with a variety of things from your garden, cutting heavily budded branches on a mild day. Choose stems of medium thickness or better, since these contain large quantities of stored sugar needed to nourish flower buds.

2. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut the branches; slice diagonally just above the bud. Cut branches at least 2'-3' long; shorter branches are less effective in arrangements.

3. Bring the branches indoors and strip flower buds and small twigs from the bottom few inches of the stems. Slit up the stem ends a few inches or crush slightly with pliers to encourage water absorption. Some may bloom faster if you submerge them completely in a tepid water bath for a few hours before making your arrangement.

4. Add the following to the water:

1/4 teaspoon citric acid mixed with one gallon of water
or 1 tablespoon sugar mixed with 1/4 teaspoon bleach
or 2 parts water to 1 part tonic water (or non-diet lemon lime soda)
5.Re cut stems and change the water every few days add.

Good candidates for forcing include: forsythias, pussy willows, fruit trees such as apples, cherries, plums, and almonds; flowering quinces, lilacs, witch hazels, hawthorns, mock oranges, spireas, wisterias, spice bush and horse chestnut.

You also do not want to forget the option of forcing bulbs. October is the time of the year to begin potting your favorite spring bulbs to prepare them for winter flowering. Tulips, narcissus (daffodils), hyacinths, crocus, scillas, grape hyacinths, and lily of the valley can be forced into flower in late winter and early spring. A pot of tulips on the window sill in February can make a winter-worn gardener renew the desire to survive the winter.

Bulbs must be given a cold temperature treatment of 35 48 degrees F for a minimum of 1213 weeks. This cold treatment can be provided by either a cold frame, an unheated attic or cellar, or even your refrigerator's vegetable section. In the refrigerator, the pots should be covered with plastic bags that have had a few breathing holes punched in them. With cold frames in very cold climates a deep mulch must

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