I love pussy willows. As the days of late February and early March often delay in their promise of spring, I have become aware of a great need in my heart for pussy willows. Round about Valentine's Day I hope more for pussy willows than for roses, although the thought of any preux chevalier shelling out gold pieces for either fills me with a nameless dread. Once I glanced at a small clutch of the coveted branches in the store: seven dollars, US.
In the past few years I've realized that in the boggy parts of our yard pussy willows exist…beyond the brambles and grapevines. I've encouraged various knights in training to venture forth, but… no takers.
Sunday I was doing battle myself on the “blueberry hill”, yanking out vines and cutting back weedy growth. It's all encroaching, and soon, I fear, it will begin entering through the windows in a Walker Percy-esque surreality.
As a few suckers fell to the ground, I noticed that they were, in fact, the long-desired objects, lying there at my feet…a small grace note amongst the thorns, proving once again that one man's weeds are another's $7 bouquet.
They make me happy.
{Also, and I just looked this up, you can order online the plant I hacked down for $19, with shipping (“French Pink Pussy Willow Shrub”).}
Betsy says
Hi Leila, I have to tell you one day when I was working at a flower shop, after arranging a bouquet where the sender had requested a "wildflower bouquet" to be sent, the older woman who received the flowers called up just disgusted. We had sent her "ditch flowers". "They look just like wildflower ones you would pick out of the ditch," 🙂 How did you put it? "One man's weeds are another's $7 bouquet"! I just LOVE those pussywillows. Nothing says spring quite the same way! Your pictures get me hopeful despite the big drifts of snow in the yard.
Margo says
oooooh, I know, I'm so in love with pussy willows! I have to buy mine, too, but they are not so expensive as yours. I saw some at market on Tuesday and they were FOUR FEET tall. I told the guy I'd have to come back and get them special when I wasn't schlepping children and a week's supply of vegetables and dairy. I'm going on Friday, even though it's supposed to be raining and nasty. And then I will take a picture of them on my mantel in my tall living room and post it. Spring is COMING.and p.s. I am so honored that you stopped by to see my bricks comforter 🙂 I know you are very busy, so thank you!
Anonymous says
That's the second time in as many days that I've thought about pussy willows. My mother called me the other day to say that hers were blooming, and she wanted to send a few to my 3 year old daughter in the mail, to take in for show and tell at preschool. The pink ones you picture are so pretty–I've never seen those before!Erika O.
Anonymous says
That's the second time in as many days that I've thought about pussy willows. My mother called me the other day to say that hers were blooming, and she wanted to send a few to my 3 year old daughter in the mail, to take in for show and tell at preschool. The pink ones you picture are so pretty–I've never seen those before!Erika O.
Erika C says
Thank you for the reminder! We have pussy willows growing on our property a ways from the house, in an area I'd just never go this time of year for any purpose other than to cut these. And I always forget. The $7 bouquet thing reminds me of the "sticks" I once bought–we were living in southern California at the time and everything seemed so sterile with the manicured lawns and palm trees around our apartment. I bought a wrapped bunch of birch twigs-for probably about $7-in a craft store because they reminded me of home. I've been teased mercilessly at any opportunity ever since because here in NY we have 6 acres worth of birch trees, complete with twigs. We're about to move to another strange, southern warm place–this time, I'll bring my own sticks with me!
Milkmaid says
They are beautiful. Just like your writing!
Sue says
Oh, that made my day! I miss pussy willows. I have seen them here at florists, but never in the "wild" (not that we have much of that, either). Like you, I refuse to shell out money for them, though I have been tempted! I have a vivid memory of the pussy willows in the yard of the house we lived in until I was eight. I remember just standing next to them and rubbing their soft fuzz. Such a pleasant memory.
magda says
What a great post for halfway through Lent! Pussywillows are used in Russia instead of palms for Palm Sunday.I like the pictures.
Mat. Emily says
I am so excited because we finally have our own yard this year and one of our parishioners is going to give us some cuttings from their giant pussy willow bush (or is it really a tree?) so that we can try to transplant it in our yard!
Rabbit says
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Rabbit says
My comment is similar to Magda's–my husband is Byzantine Catholic (Eastern Rite, in communion w/ Rome for those not in the know) and for Palm Sunday, the church, which was started by Slovak immigrants, gives out pussy willows AND palm. I grew up Roman, but now attend Byzantine Liturgy with him and I love the tradition. Really brings a touch of Spring into a dreary winter!Also, my grandfather used to bring me pussy willows every Spring from his large tree/bush/whatever in his yard. Memories! 🙂
Margaret Perry says
I just bought pussy willows for Suki and me. They are soooooo tall. I love those ones in your picture, since they're pinkish.
Kansas Amy says
Oh how I like them too! I am not used to pink ones though, where did you find those? Thanks for sharing! Happy blogging!
Anne R Triolo says
You are a good writer in general, but your style in this post was particularly enjoyable.I have been busy nursing babies, as you know, but right now my toddler AND my baby are both asleep. At the SAME TIME! (we'll just ignor that one of them is asleep in the bathroom) And I am delighted to find that I have 3 Leila posts to read! 🙂