Willow Retrospective

Limestone "pavement" above Willow Canyon, with windblown snow.

It’s a cold windy December afternoon in the foothills of the Laramie Mountains—7200 feet elevation, heart of the North American continent, far from any ameliorating marine effects. But no matter. A party of intrepid tree-followers sets off, headed for a small limestone canyon where a willow grows.

We’re not alone. Around the globe, tree-followers are checking their trees. This phenomenon began several years ago, launched by a visionary from coastal Dorset (UK), and now kindly hosted by The Squirrel Basket in Wales. It’s a fascinating project; we always find something of interest. And on the seventh of the month, everyone gathers to report the latest news of our trees (the list of links will grow through the week).

Approaching the canyon mouth.

The pussy willow I'm following grows in the canyon bottom, in a nook in the limestone wall, shaded by junipers. There's no way to capture the whole tree in one photo.

It was a good year for the willow, just look at the young growth—long reddish twigs at the ends of branchlets (below). Lots of flower buds too, ready to open in February, just a few months away! The North American pussy willow is one of the earliest plants to bloom here, maybe even the first. It beats most plants by several months or more.

But the willow won’t leaf out until late April or early May. Meanwhile the neighbor trees—evergreen junipers and limber pines—can catch a little solar energy on warmer days.

It looks like a few of the lip ferns cliff brakes (Pellaea) are still green. But barely, and I think this is just remnant green pigment. [Thanks to Plant Postings for pointing out the error in common name!]

Sagebrush stays green all winter—gray-green actually. That's its summer color too.

Here's a view of the willow's canopy from the canyon rim (dog tail for scale).

The willow sticks up above the rim just right of the juniper at the left edge of the photo.

I highly recommend getting to know a tree—consider joining us next year!

Thanks again to Lucy and Pat.