The rainy spring weather hasn’t dimmed the bright golden-yellow brilliance of the forsythia bushes! There are many varieties of forsythia available for our northern gardens.  Our Minnesota winters can be harsh enough to damage the exposed flower buds of the forsythia. That is, any buds that are above our snowline. At Knecht’s, we recommend ‘Northern Gold’ because of its reliable bud hardiness. As the showy flowers begin to fade, they are replaced by clean, bright green leaves that become dark green in summer. This outstanding, spring bloomer has an upright rounded habit, maturing around 6-8′ tall and 5-7′ wide, perfect for screening or as a large specimen. Forsythia are deer resistant and should be planted in full sun for the best shape. Forsythia branches are great for long lasting, fresh cut spring bouquets.  Cut and bring them in before the buds open, to enjoy watching spring unfold indoors where you can appreciate it up close. For home & garden plastic alternatives take a look around your yard, there’s always something you can re-use, re-use, re-use.