I love that you have willows on your land, and that your husband cares for them so much! Yes, it does sound very similar to our landscape here, although the climate is entirely different... you get all the summer sun and warmth that we don't! 😂 Although we have had a gorgeous spring so far, but woke up to a frost yesterday morning. And I was intending to plant up my beds today, think I'll leave it a bit longer... don't want my first efforts banjaxed by the weather! You should try a bit of weaving with those willows... it's really a lovely pasttime. 💕
Sarah, that is such a beautiful idyllic memory, thank you for sharing it! All trees seem to have the ability to relieve our stress, it's quite magical. But the willow in particular appeals to me, I think she is such a generous plant ally to have in our lives, and she asks so little tending in return. 💕
Ah, Ali, this is gorgeous. I loved learning all about the willow and seeing your gorgeous images. I've long dreamed of learning to basket weave, there seems to be so much layered magic in that process. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful poem too. This is exactly the sort of writing I came to substack for! Thank you for noticing the beauty of the willow and sharing so generously with us. X
Thanks Kelly! I'm not very good at basket weaving but it is a hypnotic and addictive process... I love it! You should definitely give it a go. There are lots of fantastic weavers here in Ireland running workshops, and it's really fun. 💕
I must check out what's happening near me. I definitely don't think it's about being good at it, but it's definitely a remembering! You've inspired me.
I saw the Willow Maid song on YouTube before. That song was very sweet but so tragic. The way she was violated was so visceral that I actually cried out and tears came to my eyes. And I'm not usually like that with songs--even the tragic ones.
Hi Juniper Moon! Yes, that song is so sad, but also very beautiful, and so is the the film that accompanies it. I was so moved and entranced by the look and sound of it, the singer has an amazing voice, and I love a song that tells a story. Thanks for being here! 💕
It was so beautiful. I wonder if that's what made the tragedy so visceral because here you are enjoying this most beautiful song and then something so ugly happens in it…and it continues to sound so beautiful.
Perhaps that's it, Juniper Moon. Or perhaps it's too familiar a story even today, women being treated as property by men, or brutalised by men, often the men that claim to love them.
Thanks Robin, glad you enjoyed it. You would probably enjoy the body article (linked at the bottom of the newsletter) too, if you haven't already seen it. Hugs! 💕
Thanks Noelle! That song is beautiful and sad and really captured my imagination. The singer has such a beautiful voice that is as flexible and graceful as the willow itself. 💕
What a lovely way to start a Spring morning. I thoroughly enjoyed this piece of work which transported me right back to my childhood when we used to climb the willow trees which ran alongside the railway track at the bottom of our estate. With their low hanging branches, we could lounge for hours listening to the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves, reading books and making decorations from the twigs and soft, furry catkins. I feel called to reconnect with the willow, which in my memories is reminiscent of Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree, a story I was so enchanted by when I was little. Thanks for sharing further reading to accompany your musings.
Thanks for this lovely piece of writing, Ali! I was thrilled to find that our home landscapes are so similar. Our hedges are like yours (even down to the rose bay willow in the ditches) and we have lots of willows. Funnily enough, it's the goat willow we've tried to propagate because it's such a graceful shape. They grow wild but the willows that were planted along the bottoms by the stream as the kind used for basketry and on a farm, making hurdles. The daughter of a neighbour makes a living out of basketry and has used some of our willow wands when she first started out. I remember the neighbour saying that the cut wands that weren't suitable for weaving were used as cattle fodder. They're lovely anyway, and husband has made is (one of) his life's work keeping the willows healthy and replanting the ones that have fallen down with old age.
Hi Whitney, thanks so much! I like how it turned out. I think it will be lovely planted up. My son built some raised beds out of wood for me over the weekend. I've never grown food before, it's quite exciting! Thanks for reading! Hope all is well with you. 💕
Ali, do you think it’s possible the association with milk is that the catkins look like cow udder teats?
I don't know, but it's certainly possible! What a lovely observation 🐄💕
I love that you have willows on your land, and that your husband cares for them so much! Yes, it does sound very similar to our landscape here, although the climate is entirely different... you get all the summer sun and warmth that we don't! 😂 Although we have had a gorgeous spring so far, but woke up to a frost yesterday morning. And I was intending to plant up my beds today, think I'll leave it a bit longer... don't want my first efforts banjaxed by the weather! You should try a bit of weaving with those willows... it's really a lovely pasttime. 💕
Sarah, that is such a beautiful idyllic memory, thank you for sharing it! All trees seem to have the ability to relieve our stress, it's quite magical. But the willow in particular appeals to me, I think she is such a generous plant ally to have in our lives, and she asks so little tending in return. 💕
Ah, Ali, this is gorgeous. I loved learning all about the willow and seeing your gorgeous images. I've long dreamed of learning to basket weave, there seems to be so much layered magic in that process. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful poem too. This is exactly the sort of writing I came to substack for! Thank you for noticing the beauty of the willow and sharing so generously with us. X
Thanks Kelly! I'm not very good at basket weaving but it is a hypnotic and addictive process... I love it! You should definitely give it a go. There are lots of fantastic weavers here in Ireland running workshops, and it's really fun. 💕
I must check out what's happening near me. I definitely don't think it's about being good at it, but it's definitely a remembering! You've inspired me.
Ah... lovely! Make sure you post pics of your creations, I'd love to see them! 💕
Thanks for the willowy words and wisdom! 😄
I saw the Willow Maid song on YouTube before. That song was very sweet but so tragic. The way she was violated was so visceral that I actually cried out and tears came to my eyes. And I'm not usually like that with songs--even the tragic ones.
Hi Juniper Moon! Yes, that song is so sad, but also very beautiful, and so is the the film that accompanies it. I was so moved and entranced by the look and sound of it, the singer has an amazing voice, and I love a song that tells a story. Thanks for being here! 💕
It was so beautiful. I wonder if that's what made the tragedy so visceral because here you are enjoying this most beautiful song and then something so ugly happens in it…and it continues to sound so beautiful.
Perhaps that's it, Juniper Moon. Or perhaps it's too familiar a story even today, women being treated as property by men, or brutalised by men, often the men that claim to love them.
Yeah. So awful. I don't think it will change in my lifetime.
Sadly not.
What a wonderful piece on willows! Thank you.
Thanks Robin, glad you enjoyed it. You would probably enjoy the body article (linked at the bottom of the newsletter) too, if you haven't already seen it. Hugs! 💕
What a lovely song to start my day with. I fully enjoyed this post and your reconnection to the wilow!
Thanks Noelle! That song is beautiful and sad and really captured my imagination. The singer has such a beautiful voice that is as flexible and graceful as the willow itself. 💕
What a lovely way to start a Spring morning. I thoroughly enjoyed this piece of work which transported me right back to my childhood when we used to climb the willow trees which ran alongside the railway track at the bottom of our estate. With their low hanging branches, we could lounge for hours listening to the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves, reading books and making decorations from the twigs and soft, furry catkins. I feel called to reconnect with the willow, which in my memories is reminiscent of Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree, a story I was so enchanted by when I was little. Thanks for sharing further reading to accompany your musings.
Thanks for this lovely piece of writing, Ali! I was thrilled to find that our home landscapes are so similar. Our hedges are like yours (even down to the rose bay willow in the ditches) and we have lots of willows. Funnily enough, it's the goat willow we've tried to propagate because it's such a graceful shape. They grow wild but the willows that were planted along the bottoms by the stream as the kind used for basketry and on a farm, making hurdles. The daughter of a neighbour makes a living out of basketry and has used some of our willow wands when she first started out. I remember the neighbour saying that the cut wands that weren't suitable for weaving were used as cattle fodder. They're lovely anyway, and husband has made is (one of) his life's work keeping the willows healthy and replanting the ones that have fallen down with old age.
That was a lovely read, Ali. I love your woven border. Such pretty hues in the barks you chose!
Hi Whitney, thanks so much! I like how it turned out. I think it will be lovely planted up. My son built some raised beds out of wood for me over the weekend. I've never grown food before, it's quite exciting! Thanks for reading! Hope all is well with you. 💕
How exciting! A garden! You will enjoy it.
Yes, I was going to plant up today, but yesterday woke up to a frost, so I'll hold off a week or two... I'm too eager to get started! 😂
I think you will be happy you did! I look forward to seeing pictures of your harvest!
If I manage to get any harvest, Whitney, I'm going to bore you silly with the pictures! 😂😂😂
I won’t be bored.
Haha! You say that now… btw, love your new profile pic, you are so glam! 💕