In the last few days leading up to the photo, we had several hard downpours. Although Sunday was clear, parts of the garden had flooded, including this area near a willow tree (to the left).
The willow is a fascinating tree. Its bark is rich in salicylic acid, used in the treatment of acne. The branches are flexible and root easily in water. It flowers early, with small yellow flowers, a sure sign of spring.
Sometimes, it is best to be flexible and bend in the storm, rather than be stiff and be broken by the wind and rain. This is the lesson of the willow.
Join Parul and other bloggers in #ThursdayTreeLove. Simply post a picture of a tree and visit other blogs participating in this meme. While you are at it, visit bloggers participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge, a month long challenge asking participants to blog daily.
Day 6 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge #blogboost
I used to think willows were really nice trees. Then a neighbor moved in next door and planted corkscrew willows. I hate them. They are messy and weak. Since the neighbor does not maintain them, I had to hire someone to trim what is hanging over my yard. My insurance company said if the tree fell down, as did one of the other trees on his property, they would not cover any damage to my home since I knew there was a problem. The tree is half dead and I am just waiting to see it topple in a storm one day. I already saw the other 60 footer go down and then had to fight with the guy to remove it.
ReplyDeleteI love the willow tree, and I really enjoyed the message you brought out of it. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteShare Your World July 3.
What a beautiful willow and memories ot brought back! When I was a young child, we moved to a rural house in upstate New York. My dad planted 2 willow trees, one for me and one for my sister. They we always so so mysterious looking to some but I think thought they were magical! I'm going to sign up for the ThursdayTreeLove!
ReplyDeleteHow fun and I love a meme about trees and just might join you in it. As for the tree above I love it and could see sitting under it with a book.
ReplyDeleteNice lesson from the willow tree. I was at a Toastmasters meeting last night, and another person shared how gardening is like life: pruning makes us grow, and remove the weeds from our life.
ReplyDeleteThat lesson of the willow is form the Talmud (part of the Sukka celebration; it's one of the four species that is waved.)
ReplyDeleteAmazing photo. This lovely Willow tree reminds me of a tree that I sat under to write when I was a little girl.
ReplyDeleteThe weeping willow is my favourite tree! When I was little, I called it the 'crying tree'. I had forgotten that till right now!
ReplyDeleteLovely picture .Willows have a certain old man wisdom about them
ReplyDeleteLove the Tree love.
I read only read out Willow Trees in books. I think Enid Blyton used to quote these trees. Thank you for sharing Alana. :)
ReplyDeleteYour post made me happy!
Lovely, and just what I needed.
ReplyDeleteThe willow is also good for soaking up the flooding water fairly quickly.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Maine, but I have been living in the South for over 25 years now. Although there are some beautiful trees down here, I still miss many of the tress back home. The weeping willow is one of them. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI like to think I am much like a tree. Sometimes I am strong, like an Oak. Sometimes I am sensitive and easily cry, I think of the Weeping Willow. Other times I am protective and provide shade (in a good way!) for others like the Elm tree. But most of the time I am like the Alaskan Spruce... scraggly and pathetic. HaHaHa! :)
ReplyDeleteIt has lots of personality.
ReplyDeleteThere is a song about the willow tree. Beverly Sills sang it in 1962. It's on youtube. It is so beautiful and romantic. I'd like to hear someone sing it when I see willow trees. I would sing it but it's too high. :(
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely capture, Alana! I remember reading about willow trees being associated with mysticism and superstition. Especially in children's books, they used to mention about brooms used by witches being made of the willow tree.
ReplyDeleteFascinating! Love the willow tree. It looks unique and beautiful
ReplyDeleteHow lovely! Reminds me what my son mentioned the other day that the best crickets bats are made of willows! I love their beautiful shapes. Where I grew up in the hills we used to have lots of weeping willows.
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