Precisely one month ago I brought five, long, wild cherry branches into the house, in the hope that they might eventually set leaf or even flower! Who knows how lucky I might get. I placed the branches in my best Waterford Crystal vase and placed it on a plant stand by a rather draughty door in the Drawing room. After two weeks there was no sign of a change.
So I moved the vase into the Inner Hall and changed the water. At that point I did not feel terribly optimistic about my experiment of bringing spring inside the house. The buds looked dry and dark. However, on Monday I could see one bud greening and today there are several. On one of the branches the low buds look unpromising, but there is life in the tips of it. 
It is hugely difficult to photograph, partly because of the columns are in the way, but this experiment is now looking very promising. It’s rather a shame it’s not warmer in the house, as these branches would probably set leaves a little quicker. Still, hope springs eternal.
