Walking around the Silver Lake Reservoir a couple of weeks ago I noticed the flowering trees that seemed to have come alive overnight. Since then I haven't been able to get enough of Springs blossoming branches and I love how even a single branch can bring the outdoors inside.
• 1. This close up of tight buds about to flower were from a recent photo shoot where branches were used to fill up an otherwise empty corner, bringing some life into the room.
• 2. Maxwell scavenged a single branch and it lasted a long time adding life to a small space on top of the toilet.
• 3. A huge bunch of branches plays with scale in an already large space.
• 4. Victoria added a bunch to her home a couple of years ago, and the picture has stayed in my inspiration folder. The nice thing about branches is that you don't have to do much arranging.
• 5. Nadia's bedroom was already beautiful but the addition of some cherry blossom branches added a little bit of color, a bunch of texture and played with the scale of the room.
Images: laure joliet, Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, Matt, SF Girl By The Bay, Laure Joliet
Which Wall Color Gives the Best Sleep?
Ana Creates a Community at Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
I love forcing flowering shrub and tree branches in the winter. Usually forsythia, which is so bright and cheery.
But don't forget, every flowering branch you take is fruit that will never be.
I LOVE flowering branches
@mei-ling
decorative cherry blossom trees don't actually produce cherries.
I saw some 'fake' cherry blossom branches in Pottery Barn catalogue. I wonder if they look good enough to decorate.
I forced some forsythia recently...put them in a closet and they were flowering in about a week! A little ammonia in the water really helps speed up the process. Going to try cherry blossoms next.
I love blooming quince blossoms they are so beautiful this time a year but I prefer to leave them in natural for the bees and humming birds to do their magic.
They aren't really flowering, but I never underestimate the power of some well-placed pussywillows!
Even if the tree produces fruit, all trees really *should* be pruned regularly, and this is the time of year to do it. So go prune - and don't waste the branches!