Sunday, April 25, 2010

Workshop fun!

We had three workshops here in April and I believe that everyone - not just me - had great fun. I met some really wonderful fellow gardeners, people enthusiastic about doing something different and I have received a lot of positive feed-back.
My friend, garden writer, author Yvonne Cunnington posted about her woven willow creation on her blog. Garden writer, editor and Master Gardener, Lorraine Flanigan was spreading the word about Living Willows at a presentation at Bolton Horticultural Society. Claudette Sims, a  Halton Master Gardener would like to be able to show fellow master gardeners some willow workshops next spring. Judy and Caroline are arranging a group visit here later and I have several people expressing interest for next year's workshops already.
Salix integra 'Hakuro Nishiki' (Japanese Dappled Willow) was a popular choice of variety for the twisted tree.
'Hakuro Nishiki' is a beautiful willow at all stages. The photos show (from left to right) how the foliage changes during the summer. When the new leaves start to unfold, they are a tender cream and green (sometimes a pinkish white), but then, for about 4-6 weeks in June-July, the tips of the shoots are a stunning pink. We have even had hummingbirds hoovering at the plants, thinking that they were flowers to feast on. Later in the summer the leaves are green with big splashes of creamy white and some coppery tones on some of the tips of the branches.

Salix x acutifolia - shown on these photos - was also available for the twisted tree. The bright colours on willow stems are only showing on new, one year old branches. On most willow varieties the older branches turn various colours of green or brown, but this one is quite different. The photo on the left shows the dark burgundy colour on the rods just after harvest in the spring (so they are still one year old). Soon after the new growing season starts, a white bloom is covering the stems and they stay like that for the rest of the season to turn almost black come spring. The photo on the right is a close up of the plant in summer - the new shoots bright red while the older wood on "the trunk" is white.

Salix x 'Flame' was picked for a couple of twisted trees, and Salix koriyanagi 'Rubykins' - in this photo - and Salix 'Americana' were available for both the twisted tree and the harlequin tree.
Thank you all for participating, for the great feed-back, and for your enthusiasm for "Willows". Thank you Lorraine for allowing me to use some of your photos from the workshop.
Words and photos by Lene Rasmussen,Willows.

9 comments:

  1. sikke nogle heldige kursister. Det var da nogle vildt lækre sorter at få log og arbejde med :-)

    Jeg har længe villet lavet et belgisk træ af dugpilen, men jeg har bare ikke så meget endnu, så kan ikke nænne at bruge al pilen til det (fjolet egentlig)

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  2. Jamen du godeste, hvor er det dog smukt. Tak for et dejligt kig.

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  3. Hi Lene,

    I thoroughly enjoyed your workshop and love my twisted willow tree. I made an extra one and used it in my demonstration at the Bolton Hort. Society.

    Best,
    Lorraine
    citygardeningonline.com

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  4. Vivian,
    Træerne bliver bare helt specielle, når du bruger de lidt mere usædvanligt udseende pilearter. Da jeg jo ikke havde set dugpilen som flereårig, er jeg meget betaget af, at stammen på mine træer fra sidste år er næsten sort.
    Måske næste år har du nok, til bare et træ? eller i hvert fald et snoet et?

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  5. Tak Annette,
    man kan skam nemt blive helt bidt af pil - både at arbejde med den levende pil i potter og som hegn, og pileflet af forskellig slags. Der er jo rigtigt mange dejlige danske hjemmesider med flot flet. Anne Folehave og Vivian(se ovenfor) følger jeg på bloggene, og så kigger jeg en gang imellem på både deres og andre danske kurvemageres hjemmesider.

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  6. Lorraine,
    I am so happy that you love your trees.
    Thank you for promoting the willows in your demonstration.
    Lene

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  7. looks like everyone had a great time at the workshops. your creations are beautiful.
    irena

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  8. So at the end of the season do you prune off the top?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, you cut the growth back to approximately where it was just after you made the tree.

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