When the bush turns yellow the season is on.

Forsythia is one of those shrubs that announces spring with zero subtlety—bright yellow, loud, and early. In western NJ (including Holland Township where we are), the timing shifts a bit year to year because forsythia doesn’t follow the calendar; it follows soil temperature. Once the soil at about a 4‑inch depth holds around 55°F for several days, the buds pop almost overnight