The Greek myth of Niobe and her pride is possibly one of the best known tales of the willow tree. It’s also one of the saddest. My first encounter with Greek mythology came through a book called D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths when I was about six. I loved that book then and I still love it now. The lessons that… Continue Reading…
In his book, TREES:A WOODLAND NOTEBOOK, the Right Honorable Sir Herbert Maxwell says:The name “willow” speaks to us of a time when our Anglo-Saxon forbears dwelt in wattled houses. They spoke of the tree aswelig and also as widig (whence our “withy”), the root-meaning being pliancy. Another old English name for the tree was “sallow,” which in the north has been shortened… Continue Reading…
It is believed that the start of fired pottery began when someone who needed to boil water covered their willow basket with clay and put it over the fire. The fire got hot enough to burn away the willow and fire the clay. This site has a good description of the progression of the early art of pottery, as does this… Continue Reading…
Humanity’s association with the willow has been a long one and, for humanity at least, a profitable one. There is evidence of use of willow all the way back to Paleolithic times. It is only comparatively recently that we have tamed and cultivated it. The most recognized member of this family is the Weeping Willow. While the original Weeping Willow is… Continue Reading…
I have always had willows around me wherever I’ve lived. I played under them as a child and planted them as an adult. I’ve come to love them but even I admit that while they’re beautiful, they’re hardly showy. It’s surprising how large an impact this plant has had on human lives and how long ago we met. Let’s get started.… Continue Reading…
