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The Tree of Enchantment

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 17 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #464 in Home, #60050 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

Weeping PussyWillow

 

The Tree of Enchantment is actually a Weeping PussyWillow Tree also known as Salix Caprea Pendula. It is a graceful little tree that has silvery-white catkins that line its pliable branches. It is very similar to regular PussyWillow except that its branches grow downward instead of up. The catkins are followed by yellow stamens later in the season. Once the tree has finished flowering, you'll need to cut the branches back to about two inches in length to allow for new growth the following season.

The Tree of Enchantment has long been held sacred by poets and philosophers because its flexible twigs inspire us to move and not resist the flow of life. There is an interesting, ancient, Celtic legend attached to it.

My own tree stands no more than two feet tall and is intended as a winter houseplant that can be transplanted outside into the garden come spring. It needs to be kept well watered during its stay indoors and for the first year once planted

The Legend of the Tree of Enchantment 

The legend of the tree of enchantment says that the willow tree has magical powers to grant wishes of anyone, who first asks permission and then ties a loose knot into one of its limber branches while making their wish. Later, after your wish has been granted, return to the Tree of Enchantment, untie your knot and thank the tree by leaving it a little gift.

Weeping PussyWillow 

Get Your Tree of Enchantment Here

A delightful mini Weeping Pussy Willow tree. In early spring the branches are covered with large, fluffy, silvery catkins followed by studded golden anthers. Lovely green foliage follows. Grafted head onto rootstock. Branches arch straight down making a beautiful display in all seasons. Excellent choice to accent a deck, patio or pond. Decideous. Keep outdoors.

Bonsai Boy's Weeping Pussy Willow Bonsai Tree(salix caprea 'kilmarnock')

Amazon Price: $86.90 (as of 12/01/2008)Buy Now

9 years old.
21" tall.
Potted in a 8.5" ceramic oval/clamshell terra cotta color container as shown.

The Meaning of Trees: Botany, History, Healing, Lore 

The tree is beloved as Mother Nature's visible symbol of power and grace. The Meaning of Trees is a beautiful celebration of their lore and spirit, botany and history. Genera from aspen to willow are captured in 70 dramatic photographs that illustrate their brilliant seasonal transformations. Featuring 50 different types of tree, this informative compendium describes each by way of botanical qualities; medicinal uses for their leaves, bark, and wood; cultural symbolism; magical associations; and so much more. Fascinating facts abound: the Druids believed that only the wood of the yew tree was fit to make wands; a Ukrainian tonic of birch leaves contains the same healing properties as aspirin. A visually stunning and engaging guide, The Meaning of Trees is a fitting tribute to this most majestic of natural wonders.

The Meaning of Trees: Botany, History, Healing, Lore

Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 12/01/2008)Buy Now

About the Author

Fred Hageneder is chairman of the tree protection organization The Friends of the Trees and a leading figure in the campaign to save the endangered yew trees in his native United Kingdom.

Salix Caprea 

Wikipedia Article

Salix caprea (Goat Willow, also known as the PussyWillow or Great Sallow), is a common species of willow native to Europe and western and central Asia.

It is a deciduous shrub or small tree, reaching a height of 6-12 m, rarely to 20 m. The leaves are 3-12 cm long and from 2-8 cm wide, broader than most other willows. The flowers are soft silky, silvery 3-7 cm long catkins, produced in early spring before the new leaves appear; the male and female catkins are on different plants (dioecious). The male catkins mature yellow at pollen release, the female catkins maturing pale green. The fruit is a small capsule 5-10 mm long containing numerous minute seeds embedded in fine cottony hairs. The seeds are very small (about 0.2 mm) with the fine hairs aiding dispersal; they require bare soil to germinate.

There are two varieties:

Salix caprea var. caprea. Lowland regions throughout the range. Leaves thinly hairy above, densely hairy below, 5-12 cm long; stipules persistent until autumn.
Salix caprea var. sphacelata (Sm.) Wahlenb. (syn. S. caprea var. coaetanea Hartm.; S. coaetanea (Hartm.) Floderus). High altitudes in the mountains of central and northern Europe (Alps, Carpathians, Scotland, Scandinavia). Leaves densely silky-hairy on both sides, 3-7 cm long; stipules early deciduous.

The scientific name, and the common name Goat Willow, probably derive from the first known illustration of the species in Hieronymus Bock's 1546 Herbal, where the plant is shown being browsed by a goat. The species was historically also widely used as a browse for goats, to which Bock's illustration may refer.

Ecology

Male catkinsSalix caprea occurs both in wet environments, such as riverbanks and lake shores, and in drier sites, wherever bare soil becomes available due to ground disturbance.

Hybrids with several other willow species are common, notably with Salix cinerea (S. × reichardtii), Salix aurita (S. × multinervis), Salix viminalis (S. × smithiana), and Salix purpurea (S. × sordida). Populations of Salix caprea often show hybrid introgression.

Unlike almost all other willows, pure specimens of Salix caprea do not take root readily from cuttings; if a willow resembling the species does root easily, it is probably a hybrid with another species of willow.

The leaves are used as a food resource by several species of Lepidoptera, and are also commonly eaten by browsing mammals.

Cultivation and Uses

A small number of cultivars have been selected for garden use. The most common is S. caprea 'Kilmarnock', with stiffly pendulous shoots, forming a mop-head; it is a male clone. A similar female clone is S. caprea 'Weeping Sally'. As they do not root from cuttings, they are grafted on erect stems of other willows; the height of these cultivars is determined by the height at which the graft is made.

Both tannin and salicin can be extracted from Goat Willow bark. The tree is not considered a good source of timber as its wood is both brittle and known to crackle violently if burned.

As with the closely related Salix discolor (American PussyWillow), it is also often grown for cut flowers.

Flower and Tree Magick 

Did you know that flowers have a unique language of their own? Or that the way you draw a tree reflects your life outlook and personality?
Flowers and trees have long been celebrated as sacred and powerful. By learning to read the special messages they hold, plants can help us navigate our life path and reconnect with nature. In this comprehensive guide, bestselling author Richard Webster uncovers the hidden properties of every major type of tree, herb, and flower that we encounter in our daily lives. From protection and healing to divination and worship, this book shows you how to apply ancient spiritual practices from many cultures to modern life-attract your ideal mate with valerian and sage, ward off psychic attacks with a sprinkling of rose oil, restore positive energy with nature meditations, and more.

Nature lovers, myth historians, and trivia lovers alike will embrace this all-encompassing guide to the vast history and extensive magic of flowers and trees.

Flower and Tree Magic: Discover the Natural Enchantment Around You

Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 12/01/2008)Buy Now

About the Author

Richard Webster was born and raised in New Zealand. He has been interested in the psychic world since he was nine years old. As a teenager, he became involved in hypnotism and later became a professional stage hypnotist. After school, he worked in the publishing business and purchased a bookstore. The concept of reincarnation played a significant role in his decision to become a past-life specialist. Richard has also taught psychic development classes, which are based on many of his books.Richard's first book was published in 1972, fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming an author. Along with Is Your Pet Psychic?, Webster has written 19 other books for Llewellyn Publications including, The Complete Book of Palmistry, Seven Secrets to Success, Feng Shui for Beginners, Past-Life Memories, Dowsing for Beginners and Pendulum Magic for Beginners.Richard regularly has appeared on several radio and TV programs in the United States and abroad including guest spots on Hard Copy, WMAQ-TV (Chicago), KTLA-TV (Los Angeles), KSTW-TV (Seattle) and the Mike and Matty Show (ABC). He currently resides in New Zealand with his wife and three children. He regularly travels the world to give lectures, workshops and to continue his research.

Weeping Pussy Willows 

Find your Weeping Pussy Willow at Amazon. Click product links to learn more about each item or to purchase directly from Amazon.com.

THE WEEPING PUSSY WILLOW

Amazon Price: (as of 12/01/2008) Buy Now

The Weeping Pussy Willow. Merry-Go-Round Book Series

Amazon Price: (as of 12/01/2008) Buy Now

Tree of Enchantment Music Download 

From the Album Faerie Nights by Patricia Spero.

Tree of Enchantment

Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 12/01/2008)Buy Now

The Tree of Enchantment 

on Ebay

If you're lucky, you'll find one here. If not stop back soon.

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Tree of Enchantment Guestbook 

Thank you for visiting! Leave your questions and comments here.

Jewelsofawe wrote...

I love the idea of this wishing tree. How Cool! I had never heard of them until I saw your lens. 5*

ReplyPosted September 10, 2008

The_Homeopath wrote...

My grandparents' yard was filled with pussy willows. Every one that I've tried to grow here just hasn't made it.

Of course, thanks to squidoo, I'm going to giggle every time I hear the name now!

ReplyPosted July 12, 2008

mulberry wrote...

Nicely done, glad you got it past the spam filter!

ReplyPosted July 11, 2008

jasmineann wrote...

Very lovely and informative lens. This is a beautiful tree and it was good to learn more about it. Thank you !

ReplyPosted July 11, 2008

EelKat wrote...

{{{{huggles}}}} so glad to see this lens return. Stupid spam filter... got me too and my lens also just returned. Hope that means the spam filter is fixed and will stop catching non spam lenses now.

I already 5 stared this, so I'll send some hugs this time around.

ReplyPosted July 10, 2008

 
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Pussy Willow 

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