We finally added some functionality to the website to take purchase orders for our colorful array of curly willow branches. Visit the Curly Willow Branches page under the Buy menu on our site to see color and bundle options.

These are great for arrangements, weddings, or anywhere you need a natural accent. The colors are super vibrant when fresh cut and kept cold. They will dry to more muted colors, yet will continue to add a pleasing contour to an entrance way, a lonely corner or table top. We recommend large clear vases to display the complete stem, but these branches look great in any type container.

The catkins are swelling. And willow cuttings are growing well.

I had not heard the term hoarfrost before moving to Iowa. I suppose it existed elsewhere in the world and no one told me. Did the world think I wasn’t to be trusted with such a word? Maybe. And perhaps they had good reason.

It turns out the Internet has information that explains the phenomenon of hoarfrost. I like this one that appears to be from a site titled snowcrystals.com (though the address is really from Caltech). As the title suggests, the site also has fascinating descriptions of all the different crystal forms of snow.

As for the hoar in hoarfrost — according to my friend the internet, it is a reference to its white/gray aged appearance. A bit of a let down in terms of interesting etymology. And yet it makes for really nice winter photos.

Now, as I am typing this post, the frost is gone;  A big fat robin is hopping about the dry grass, and geese can be heard as they fly overhead.

And so it begins…

The first shipment of new willow cuttings arrived this past week and Anne has sprung into action. Trays were at the ready. Dirt and sand had been thoroughly mixed.

The deep cell trays are new this year to accommodate more than 300 willow cuttings. And it may reach over 500 if our stock plants are ready to provide. Some of the cuttings in the bag above will be used to generate more stock trees and shrubs.

The deep cells will encourage plenty of roots. At least that’s the plan. Like much of what we do around here, we haven’t really done this before. We’ve done willow cuttings, just not on this scale and not with these cells.

Even if the roots aren’t as productive as we hope, the forest of sticks in our bedroom is interesting. I’m tempted to put little forest creatures or plastic soldiers in the forest. I think that would be fun.

I know, it’s about time I posted. Now would be a great time to reflect on the 2010 gardening season, but that’s a bigger topic than I can manage at present! This one will be about yellow curly willow, which I now think I like even more than coral bark curly willow! Time will tell. My yellow curly willows are a little older than than my 2 newer varieties: coral bark and scarlet, and the branches tend to become more contorted in years 2 and 3.
Below I managed to capture yellow curly willow on particularly good day, with great color saturation. I have taken shots on other winter days that barely revealed the stunning color I see through the lens. Notice the different tones: the oldest biggest branches are a dried grass color, next oldest are more golden, and the youngest tips are a coppery orangish hue.

This tree was planted from an unrooted cutting in 2009. It is already 8 – 10 feet tall! Other unrooted cuttings were planted in less ideal places- one in compacted gravel and others in quack grass, and they are much smaller and poorly developed in comparison. When planting any tree always remove competing vegetation (especially grasses since they are water hogs) at least 3 feet in diameter around your tree and add 2-3 inches of mulch.

I took this photo of golden, coral bark and green curly willow branches in early spring while they were still dormant and at their best colorwise. The green and coral bark were harvested from my trees, and the golden had just arrived in the mail. Golden is a new variety for me and I look forward to seeing it against a backdrop of snow. But don’t misread me. As hot and humid as it is I’m not suggesting that winter should arrive early.

I’m also growing scarlet curly willow for the first time. This curly willow’s +1 year growth is purple, and the new growth is scarlet- both great colors which makes it my favorite, for the moment anyway. I believe it has great promise and I’m enjoying watching it grow.

In 2008 I planted a rooted green curly willow cutting from my mom’s tree into a crack in our “concrete pad” garden.

Look how much it grew in a year!

And after a heavy shearing last month.

Or is it just “Willowrama?”

Regardless of the term, we do have quite a few curly willow cuttings growing inside and more out planted in the garden. The garden is still dormant, but we expect some good growth from these cuttings. Then we will plant some around the property and pot some for sale at the local farmer’s market. Anne has already sold a few cuttings on Craiglist (Cedar Rapids, IA). They are fast growers and offer attractive twisting structure during Winter. The picture above shows the catkin or bloom of the willow.

It seems Winter is a good time to post about corkscrew willows, because last November I posted about these twisty creatures. They are so crazy twisty you can’t help but look at them and say, “Cool! That is twisted.”

The sad truth is that the willow I posted about last November might not make it, but this one has serious potential. It grew very well all Summer. So much so that Anne already has plans to start more. Many more. I’ll help, of course.

Willow cuttings grow roots readily in a glass of water. With just a few roots forming, I like to stick them into soil and water well. Keep them well watered as willows like it damp. I’m wondering now if it would save time or be better for the tree to plant the cuttings in buried pots or simply stick them into a growing-on bed for transplant at a later time. Maybe we will do half/half and see what happens.