Photos: Contorta Willow
Jan. 10th, 2026 05:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmith posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
birdfeedingI took some pictures yesterday but didn't have time to upload and post them until today. The night before, a windstorm blew down the contorta willow sapling that used to stand between the house yard and the south lot, near the big maple tree.
The contorta willow, which died a few years ago, has fallen down. I'm mulling over what to plant in its stead -- possibly a contorta hazelnut or other specimen tree, if not that then probably some sort of oak for its sheer wildlife value.
A side view shows how long it is.
As the roots had largely rotted away, the base came out of the ground during a windstorm.
The middle has some nice twists and bends. Some of this might be good for crafts. I've contemplated making a unicorn staff and/or wand.
The upper twigs are twistier but also more fragile. I may save some for ritual fires, as willow is a sacred wood and the spiral structure adds more energy.
Irises and other bulbs under the maple tree have green leaves. That other kind might be grape hyacinth as it lacks the stripes of crocus. We've had a few cold snaps and snows, but the winter has been so mild that cold-hardy things are still green.
More irises appear in the purple-and-white garden.
Pinks are growing in this pot. Sometimes they have bits of green all winter now. I should see about getting some established in bigger pots like this, because they bloom earlier if they're not transplanted.
The garden shed stands near the east edge of the south lot.
The new picnic table garden and septic garden stand near the west end of the south lot.
This tuft of Egyptian Walking Onions is growing in a large pot. A type of perennial allium, they are popular in permaculture gardens.
These Egyptian Walking Onions are growing in the ground.
Birds have been pecking the seeds out of this sunflower head. In fall, I harvested a lot of seeds to save, but I didn't take all of them. The birds have long since denuded leftover seedheads of zinnia, echinacea, goldenrod, sunchoke, and most other flowers.
This black walnut has been chewed open, probably by a squirrel. They leave the pieces everywhere.
Tulips and columbines are sprouting in the tulip bed.
The goddess garden -- minus its goddess statue -- is just a faint ring at this time of year, but you can see some of the thyme poking up with tiny green leaves.
The contorta willow, which died a few years ago, has fallen down. I'm mulling over what to plant in its stead -- possibly a contorta hazelnut or other specimen tree, if not that then probably some sort of oak for its sheer wildlife value.
A side view shows how long it is.
As the roots had largely rotted away, the base came out of the ground during a windstorm.
The middle has some nice twists and bends. Some of this might be good for crafts. I've contemplated making a unicorn staff and/or wand.
The upper twigs are twistier but also more fragile. I may save some for ritual fires, as willow is a sacred wood and the spiral structure adds more energy.
Irises and other bulbs under the maple tree have green leaves. That other kind might be grape hyacinth as it lacks the stripes of crocus. We've had a few cold snaps and snows, but the winter has been so mild that cold-hardy things are still green.
More irises appear in the purple-and-white garden.
Pinks are growing in this pot. Sometimes they have bits of green all winter now. I should see about getting some established in bigger pots like this, because they bloom earlier if they're not transplanted.
The garden shed stands near the east edge of the south lot.
The new picnic table garden and septic garden stand near the west end of the south lot.
This tuft of Egyptian Walking Onions is growing in a large pot. A type of perennial allium, they are popular in permaculture gardens.
These Egyptian Walking Onions are growing in the ground.
Birds have been pecking the seeds out of this sunflower head. In fall, I harvested a lot of seeds to save, but I didn't take all of them. The birds have long since denuded leftover seedheads of zinnia, echinacea, goldenrod, sunchoke, and most other flowers.
This black walnut has been chewed open, probably by a squirrel. They leave the pieces everywhere.
Tulips and columbines are sprouting in the tulip bed.
The goddess garden -- minus its goddess statue -- is just a faint ring at this time of year, but you can see some of the thyme poking up with tiny green leaves.
(no subject)
Date: 2026-01-11 12:45 am (UTC)The contorta willow is very cool. P.
Thoughts
Date: 2026-01-11 02:00 am (UTC)Doesn't to me either. 50 years ago this was Zone 5b. It started snowing in late November or early December and we saw the ground again in March. It would sometimes have a week or two above-freezing in January that would melt patches, but never anywhere close to all the snow. "White Christmas" meant having fresh snow.
30 years ago this was Zone 6a. I noticed the shift a lot sooner than even the Arbor Day Foundation, who changed their map about a decade before the government did. Winters were still snowy but less so.
Several years ago this was right on the border of 6b, so I figure it's gone over by now. Winters have some snow, but it comes and goes. But the grass and some other plants often stay at least partly green all winter. Last year it rained on Christmas Eve. That just adds insult to injury. >_< Admittedly, it's nice that I can often get out and do yardwork in winter. But more and more of summer is so hot I can barely do anything (90F+), or it's actually too hot to leave the house safely (100F+) for more than a dash to the car.
>>The contorta willow is very cool. P.<<
I liked it, and it was fun while it lasted. I thought maybe I'd planted it in the wrong place, but apparently they don't have great health and rarely last long. It's still cool.
(no subject)
Date: 2026-01-12 08:50 pm (UTC)Yes ...
Date: 2026-01-12 09:08 pm (UTC)