The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #119139   Message #2581269
Posted By: Genie
04-Mar-09 - 02:45 PM
Thread Name: BS: Pussy willow branches to find homes for
Subject: BS: Pussy willow branches to find homes for
It's probably not as hard as finding good homes for real kittens, but my hybrid pussy willow bush/tree has been very prolific this year in putting out shoots replete with fuzzy little catkins.

I've cut a bunch of them and can cut a bunch more if the weather stays cool enough for another day.

[[History of the bush/tree.   It was bought as a "weeping pussy willow" bush back in 1981 and planted over the burial site of my dearly departed classic silver tabby, so she could 'live on' through it.   But it was a weeping pussy willow grafted onto a standard - full-size - pussy willow tree, and the standard pussy willow has sprouted, ever onward and upward, since then, behind the weeping part [which has bent over so far forward that I think it may sprout new roots at the other end.]]

I plan to cut down the standard part this year anyway, as it's too close to the house and shades my vegetable garden area.   Anything I can't give away (as firewood or as decorative catkin twigs) will be recycled as yard debris.   But I know that pussy willow twigs/branches are often used in "floral" displays and for other decorative crafts.

So I am wondering if anyone has any ideas as to how I could put these very pretty pussy willow 'sprays' together with people who would like to use them for arts and crafts, decorations, etc.

Genie

PS,
I've also heard that if you put a sprig from a pussy willow into the ground it will sprout roots and become a new bush. If that's true, does it have to be in the fall or at some other particular time of year?