About 15 years or more ago we lived in Shediac New Brunswick on the east coast of Canada. A friend offered to help us build on our property. It included some wild bushes and trees from nearby fields and woods. Our house was on a small lot which was bordered at the back by a narrow strip of woods about 40 feet wide. My friend went through there and found a couple of plants that I would have called twigs. He planted them in the berm. The next spring before the snow had gone, the twigs were in flower. There were no leaves on the plant but flowers were growing right on the wood. It was quite a sight to see. In following years the twigs grew branches and we eventually ended with two bushes that were not impressive in summer, but which certainly drew attention in the spring when they would be completely covered with these beautiful flowers while the rest of the property was under snow. Nobody we knew had any idea what the plant was.
We sold the house in the middle of winter and we didnt get a chance to take part of the plant with us. We did not move far away and we built a berm at our new place.
Two years ago, 2002, I went scrounging in the little woods behind our former residence and found only one scrawny twig sticking out of the ground. I took it home and placed it in the berm. It grew a little that first year and last spring there were flowers on the little twig. During the summer branches appeared and new shoots came up next to it. This spring it is covered in flowers. Most of the trees around here havent started to bud yet, but this plant is showing its stuff.
My wife took this picture of it this morning.
Your help would really be appreciated
Paul