Cutting Pussy Willows at the Farm
Like many of you, every year I eagerly await those first signs of spring. This week in the Northeast, we had a day of record warm temperatures - in some areas reaching the high 70s. And here at my Bedford, New York farm, my favorite harbingers of the season are the pussy willows - those branches of silvery gray catkins that shimmer in the moist to wet soil near meadows, swamps and streams around this time.
These deciduous shrubs, scientifically known as Salix discolor, naturally grow up to 20-feet tall, or even more if left unpruned. They are very easy to multiply and make wonderful cut arrangements. Recently, my gardeners, Ryan and Wilmer, cut bunches of pussy willows from a grove I planted along the wetlands of my farm. I love to use them to make large displays for Easter.
Enjoy these photos…
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- Last week, Ryan and Wilmer went down to the pussy willow grove to cut some branches for my spring arrangements. Pussy willows grow in almost any kind of moist soil and thrive best in full sun.
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- My pussy willows are located in a field behind my greenhouse, where there is lots of room for them to grow and flourish.
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- Pussy willow is a common name given to many smaller species of the genus, Salix, when their furry, velvety catkins are young. Salix discolor is the American pussy willow.
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- Pussy willow trunks can be either single or clustered with flexible branches and branchlets. Wilmer is able to cut these branches without using a ladder.
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- Ryan carries the first of several bunches to the side before going back to cut more. I always like to have lots and lots of pussy willows for my arrangements.
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- Pussy willow is common throughout the southern half of Canada and the north-central and northeastern portions of the United States.
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- Some pussy willows have very large, furry catkins.
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- While other pussy willow varieties have smaller catkins.
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- Here’s Wilmer with another bunch of branches. Pruning makes picking reachable and quick to pick.
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- Although they can be allowed to grow unpruned, pussy willow will benefit from regular pruning after blooming.
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- Pussy willows are very easy to propagate. And, while they don’t take up a lot of space to grow, their roots can be quite invasive, so don’t plant them near water lines or septic systems.
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- Pussy willows root so easily that stems of almost any size can simply be stuck into a vase of water, where they will form roots in just a few weeks.
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- After cutting enough to fit the back of the Polaris, they were ready to be transported to the house.
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- Here’s Ryan making sure he didn’t miss any more good branches filled with catkins. If you grow pussy willows, heavy pruning is also necessary to keep them strong and nicely shaped.
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- Wilmer works from the other side of the grove and checks to make sure he also picked the best pussy willows.
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- Ryan and Wilmer drove all the pussy willows to my carport and began separating them by type.
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- Each bunch was then tied in a bundle using jute twine.
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- Sometimes I like to keep the arrangements tied in the container. Since the branches are quite long, Ryan and Wilmer secured each bundle in two or three spots.
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- Here is a closer look at the pussy willow branches with their large velvety catkins that always create bold displays.
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- This unusual willow is Salix udensis ‘Sekka’, or Fantail Willow. It has a unique, flattened form, rich color, and small catkins.
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- This is Purple Heirloom. It has attractive blonde bark, thin grassy stems, and lots of small dark purple catkins.
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- All the bundles are set in dry buckets and then placed in the back of the carport near my Flower Room.
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- Cutting branches for indoor displays is an excellent use of these pussy willow catkins. I am looking forward to making pretty arrangements – they will look gorgeous in my Brown Room.
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