• Wednesday-What'sUP May 3 - 10:22 am

Pussy willows have always been a favorite spring-time ritual for me, so when Z-Man sent this shot, I was quite excited! These simple looking twig-like branches produce furry little buds that signal the beginning of the season of new life. Here in the northern parts of the U.P. they're a welcome sight after months of cold winter days. You can make a simple, yet decorative display by pruning a few branches and setting them in a vase at home and best of all, they're free. Hmm... I wonder if you can propagate them to grow in your yard?

One of my favorite things to see in the Spring also Mary!

One of my favorites, too. It would be great to have them in my yard......

Gathering pussy willows was always a favorite thing of my mom's, too Mary. She always dragged my brother (who is 9 years older than me) along to help her get them out of the marshes. She loved them. The rest of us put up with them for mom. :-)

Spring is really springing here in mid-Michigan now. Some of the early trees are even blossoming out, finally! Another couple of weeks, and we will have leaves on the trees. I can't wait!

What is it about pussy willows that just seem to bring out the excitement in you? I've always loved them!

Good morning! When I was in grade school, the teacher would take the class on a field trip and we would pick pussy willows. When we got back to the school, we would color the buds with colored chalk. They would look so pretty!

I love pussy willows! Thank you for the memory!

I have a wreath made up of curly willow branches and pussy willow. I love it because it reminds me of home. I remember going out in the spring and picking pussy willow branches and trailing arbutus. What great memories!

Yes, Mary, you can propagate them. Just leave them in that water and they will get roots in no time. Or you can just plant them in a damp place; just be sure they stay damp. Before you know it, you'll have trees!

My grandmother Ada had a pussywillow bush in her garden, it was one of my favorites! Thankyou for bringing back a memory that brings on a smile!

I liked to find those too, never collected them just looked for them.

Hey Marianne. My wife always wants the pussy willows that are in the swamp also! I have to get wet feet to make her happy.
Janie T. My Grandmother had a big bush by her house. They were bigger buds than the ones in the wild. We always called them "tame " pussy willows.

We had a pussy willow in our yard for years...in a very wet spot. But it eventually died. Sure did enjoy the buds!

Years ago we transplanted a pussy willow bush to western Illinois. It grew fine. And that is hot weather in the summer. No swamp. ???

Paulwebbtroll...grandmother's and gardens, just a natural combination, next to cooking! I wish I had half of grandma's green thumb! I am working on it, I am transferring wild and native flowers from our meadows to our yard around the house.

Hei, Hei; does anybody remember the Spring Bush in Hancock. At one time it was a stomping ground for most of us kids living in Hancock. I remember many happy hours spent roaming in an around it. A person could enter it either from the corner of Prospect St, and Ethel Ave, or from Popular St.
There were several natural springs in the area and one had a pipe coming out of the ground with water much better tasting than any water from the tap in our homes. Also there were foot trails going up to Swedetown Creek where we used to swim before Hancock Beach was safe for swiming.

Back to The Spring Bush again. I'll never forget"Bushville" This was an area where a bunch of us kids worked together and had about 8 different shacks that we built in the same area some made from logs and some made using branches to build a frame that was covered with Birch bark. It was nice until some body started drawing some off color pictures and sayings on the birch bark.