Pussy Willow Arrangements for Easter
It always makes me so happy when my pussy willows are ready for picking - they are true harbingers of spring.
Every year, my gardeners gather bunches and bunches of pussy willow branches from a grove just behind my main greenhouse. With their fuzzy little buds called catkins, they can easily make the most cheerful indoor arrangements. Yesterday, Ryan created two large displays for my Brown Room - just in time for Easter.
Enjoy these photos.
-
- These pussy willows were cut and stored in my carport until it was time to put them in containers. They were then moved into my Winter House Brown Room and placed gently on old sheets in the middle of the floor.
-
- Salix discolor is the American pussy willow. It can grow up to 20-feet or even more when left unpruned. These branches are about six to eight feet long. The willow buds will last for weeks and will not open as long as they’re kept dry.
-
- The twigs are flexible and gray in color. My gardeners know to pick the straightest pussy willows with the most furry catkins for the arrangements.
-
- This is one of two antique urns made of the same material used to manufacture sewer pipes. Sewer tile pottery was made by pipe workers who used leftover clay at the end of the work week to create sculptured forms such as this planter. Over the years, I’ve collected a few pieces. Made mostly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these were valued for their color, their rarity and their form. I just love these industrial looking vessels.
-
- To protect the urn, we lined the bottom with aluminum foil. Because these will be dry arrangements, there wasn’t a huge concern about water leakage, but the foil provides a safeguard against moisture and potential scratches.
-
- Ryan goes through the large bunch one by one and selects the nicest twigs to use.
-
- Here, he trims off any small, unnecessary branchlets.
-
- Once they are gathered, Ryan ties the bunch together with jute twine.
-
- We use jute twine for many projects here at the farm. Jute is a long, soft, shiny bast fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from flowering plants in the genus Corchorus, which is in the mallow family Tiliaceae.
-
- Because these branches are quite long, Ryan also makes sure they are tied high enough, so the branches are well supported.
-
- He also ties the bunch together a second time for safety.
-
- Then, using a pair of garden shears, Ryan carefully cuts the bottom of the branches, so they sit level in the urns.
-
- Here, Ryan puts in the last of four bunches into the container. Ryan makes separate smaller bunches instead of one big one. He says this creates a more balanced arrangement in the urn and makes it less likely for the pussy willows to tip over.
-
- This unique container is also two separate pieces, so Ryan checks to make sure everything is centered and secure.
-
- Ryan checks the tops of the branches and trims any that are too tall.
-
- Then he moves on to the second display.
-
- He checks each branch to ensure it is long, straight and sturdy.
-
- Just before he is done, he also chooses long pussy willows with multiple strong branches that can support the others and wrap around the bunch like a “claw.”
-
- Ryan places the first of four bundles into the container in the other corner…
-
- … And then the other three.
-
- He steps back to make sure nothing is touching the window shades or any surfaces that could be scratched. The pussy willows will keep their upright position. I love making large arrangements for use indoors – the bigger, the better!
-
- Both arrangements look great. They will look even prettier surrounded by all my Easter decorations. What are you planning for this weekend’s spring holiday? It is just three days away.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
