February 22, 2018

Cutting Pussy Willows at the Farm

Like many of you, every year I eagerly await those first signs of spring. This week in the Northeast, we had a day of record warm temperatures - in some areas reaching the high 70s. And here at my Bedford, New York farm, my favorite harbingers of the season are the pussy willows - those branches of silvery gray catkins that shimmer in the moist to wet soil near meadows, swamps and streams around this time.

These deciduous shrubs, scientifically known as Salix discolor, naturally grow up to 20-feet tall, or even more if left unpruned. They are very easy to multiply and make wonderful cut arrangements. Recently, my gardeners, Ryan and Wilmer, cut bunches of pussy willows from a grove I planted along the wetlands of my farm. I love to use them to make large displays for Easter.

Enjoy these photos…