Q: Is it normal for a forsythia bush to have blooms in November in north Georgia? I saw a bush producing flowers outside of Cleveland, GA.

A: It may not be normal for us but it is completely normal for the forsythia. Spring-flowering shrubs, like azalea, forsythia and quince are sensitive to stress triggers in their environment. The heat and drought of September was quite stressful for your forsythia, just as winter cold would be. A few buds reacted to harsh conditions by opening early. The rest will keep tight until they display their golden branches in March.