It was the last day of the project today. Whilst I will have to make a trip back during the next coppicing season in the winter to finish the arbour by the pond, all the main structures are complete and are showing signs of growth. Yippee!!
Having just stopped for lunch and being struck several times this morning with blog inspiration, I thought I would regale you with my further adventures in willow sculpting.
It’s a cooler today than it has been the last few days. I am glad of the cooler weather as the willow remains supple and flexible when it hasn’t dried out in the sun.
Today, to him gazing south with a new-born need stirring in his heart, the clear sky over their long low outline seemed to pulsate with promise; today, the unseen was everything. The unknown, the only real fact of life.
Wow, what a day! It started with rain ended with rain and had rain in the middle, but as I told the lovely Liz, who came to see us at intervals with tea and wonderment, rain is good for the willow, it helps water it in and stops the whips from drying out.
‘Twas the night before the willow project and all through the flat, a wave of excitement arose as softly I sat, on the comfortable sofa with a head full to bursting, itching to get started on Ratty’s boat, first thing!!’
This year GreenArt will be holding its first sunflower growing competition. Inspired by The Big Sunflower Project, we’re helping to raise awareness of rare neuromuscular conditions known as centronuclear and myotubular myopathy, by asking people to grow a sunflower.
I started weaving living willow about 18 months ago on my allotment, after having my curiosity peaked by seeing structures like tunnels and dens when taking the kids to National Trust properties. With an accessible source in the Holybrook woods close to the allotments, I got permission to coppice from the local tree officer and off I went.
We thought you would find it interesting to provide a more detailed picture of some of the plants we care for and include in our garden schemes, so here’s the first of our specimen-focused blogs for this year.
