Just We Weepers

This a picture from my place of work - My days always BEGIN nicely!

I mentioned a while back on one of my blogs, I like to read blogs where I can learn something new…I think I wrote about a tent for that one.
Well, here is another…inspired by a recent letterboxing experience..the LB expereince was quite uneventful except that I ran into a fellow town person riding his bike 10 miles from our home town. What are the chances? Sheeez. Of course, this is not quite my FAVORITE tree –how could it be with my name?..LOL…but it is 2nd!!!!

Willows are very cross-fertile and numerous hybrids occur, both naturally and in cultivation.

Willows are often planted on the borders of streams so that their interlacing roots may protect the bank against the action of the water. Soil depth for roots 24 inches minimum.

The leaves and bark of the willow tree have been mentioned in ancient texts for a remedy for aches and fever, and the Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates wrote about its medicinal properties in the 5th century BC. Native Americans across the American continent relied on it as a staple of their medical treatments. This is because they contain salicylic acid, the precursor to aspirin.

Wood from willow trees are often used for the following products:
Boxes, brooms, cricket bats (grown from certain strains of white willow), cradle boards, chairs and other furniture, dolls, flutes, poles, sweat lodges, toys, tool handles, veneer, wands, & whistles.

Maximum Height 70 feet after 20 years – a short life span these trees have.

Flower color is yellow & fruit seed color is white. Leaves are not retained on tree each year.

A couple of stats that struck me odd they be mentioned at all…ready?




Fire Resistant – NO!!
Causes Livestock Bloating – NO!!


Willow trees are quite prevalent in folklore and myths.
Wisdom of the Willow Tree (Google this title – it’s a short enjoyable read!)
~Osage Tribe story --come now, google it- I know you want to, Go ahead, give it a read!
And more recently, of course, The Harry Potter Series…The Whomping Willow.

Stewie took this picture while we were boxing locally.

For years now, I have thought the Weeping Willow to be a lovely tree. I can always imagine myself under such a tree on a hot summers day with those feathery branches wisping about me while reading a book in an Adirondack chair (cushioned, of course), sipping a glass of sweet tea with a slice of lemon. However, you won’t catch me under one after dark!! Creepy, creepy, creepy!

I do like that mysterious natural look of the branches. If I were ever to make a “Coffee Table” book – you all know the ones I am talking about; you see them at Barnes & Noble on the clearance rack – I would do one of just Weeping Willows in their natural state. Of course, I’d need a better camera than I have now – Lisascenic might be able to help me out on that front - & I need way more time on my hands!!

I actually had to do research for this blog entry. It was kind of fun. My favorite piece of trivia - the medicinal aspects of the tree. And running across the story of The Wisdom Of The Willow Tree. I will also sleep better knowing this tree will not cause livestock to BLOAT!!!!

Think I will blog about my most favorite tree soon. Any guesses on what that may be?