Winter Willow & Summer Dreams

Now that we've passed the winter solstice and the days are getting longer again, willow growers are thinking ahead to the next season. Here's some inspiration from Upper Michigan basketmaker Poppy Hatinger, who shared her willow coracle project last month.

Poppy sent two images of her Abby's House project. It's a living willow structure she named for her granddaughter and built in hopes of sharing time together looking for clovers and caterpillars.

Above is a picture was taken during the summer of the year it was planted.

 

This was taken the next summer.

 

This is another living trellis project. Poppy didn't note when it was planted, but did say it needs to be trimmed three or more times a year to keep it under control. 

Finally, Poppy sent an image of a trellis in progress using a pizza box jig idea she picked up in a lecture I did a few years back at the Association of Michigan Basketmakers conference. (You can read more about the technique here.)

The snow depth in our area is much deeper now than when Poppy took picture above. Below is my own Scarlett O'Trellis, which was built using the pizza box jig, in a photo from last year.

Here she is today.

Scarlett guards my front flower bed in the winter. She's (usually) tall enough for the snow plow to see to know when to push no farther. 

 

My west willow bed guards has a winter job, as well. It acts as a snow fence to protect the house from blowing and drifting snow.

Are you shoveling snow, watching it rain, or enjoying a beautiful winter day with a couple extra minutes of daylight? Wherever you are, happy holidays to all from Donna, Jo and Joanna!