Many shrubs set flower buds at the end of the prior season. But that doesn't necessarily make them good candidates for forcing in late winter. It is the timing of the flowering and when the flower buds start swelling. It is most effective with the very early blooming shrubs/trees mentioned or those other early bloomers that tend to produce their flowers before leafing out. There is a bit of a time limit involved as well - the frequent suggestion is to cut stems for forcing no earlier than about 6 weeks before usual bloom time. And that's probably the outer edge! For common lilacs, that would be about mid to late March at the earliest......more like early spring. And yes, you can force a lilac into bloom but you just want to attempt it much later than you would with the forsythia, etc.

VV, I moved 7 out of ten of my New Dawn in late winter and they didn't blink. Such a tough rose! But I'm getting impressed with roses in general. I've been moving dozens in triple digit heat and having to cut a lot of their root systems. They are shocked and defoliate but then come right back, amazing to me.

they're looking great. i grew Stupice one year and plants were setting fruit in 90 degree weather. it's a good early tomato. I'm trying to find an alliterative to it with slightly larger tomatoes. planning on any support for them? I put a cage directly in pots, then a make a few holes about 1 inch from the top of the containers and zip tie the cage to the pots.

Oh that. The bicycle is actually suspended in the air on cables between the trees. What kind of impression that leaves on the people driving by is another matter. I did see someone back up and take a picture today.