Sure, the forsythia bushes and plum trees are nearly in bloom (if not already flowering), but you don’t have to leave all that beautiful spring color outdoors. And you can beat the show to the punch if you prune a bundle of branches and bring them inside for forcing. Just about any flowering shrub or tree can be forced. Here are some tips from HGTV.com:

For flowering shrubs, find branches with tight buds, cut them from the tree and bring them indoors. Make small slits in the ends of the branches so they’ll be able to take in water. Place the branches in a container of water and wait for the buds to open.

Tree prunings take a little more effort. Trim off a portion of the branch and lay it on a flat work surface. Hit the end of the branch about nine or 10 times with a hammer to flatten it and allow it to absorb water. Place the branch in a container of water and set it in a draft-free area with indirect sunlight. Then, wait two to three weeks for the buds to begin flowering. (To encourage rapid blooming, keep the indoor temperature around 70 degrees.)

Forced branches will last several weeks inside.