Nick and I both love willow trees, and have been wanting-slash-planning to plant one since we moved to our acreage in September 2009 when we started our little blog. Life kept distracting us, and financial priorities kept preventing us from actually ever planting a willow (trees are expensive!). So when the girls were born last summer, we decided that we were going to plant not one, but TWO willows (one for each girl) that they could watch grow over the years and know that their tree was the same age as they are!
Of course you know it didn’t get done last fall, or you would have heard about it! But just the other day… Nick came home with two baby willows! And I was so excited to plant our sentimental willows!
First we looked at an aerial view of our acreage on google maps, and decided exactly where we wanted to plant them. (for your convenience I labeled certain areas of our property so you could feel like you’re getting a personal tour of our homestead… you’re welcome!)
If you look close, I put two red X’s where we decided to plant the willows!
Those suckers get pretty darn HUGE, so we used an extra-long measuring tape to make sure they were the right distance from each other, our property line, and the Soft Maples that line our driveway.
And the man-boy got digging! I provided emotional support and encouragement via whistling Christmas tunes and taking photographs. He’s so lucky to have me as his wife.
Lucille had to check things out of course.
We can’t wait to watch them grow over the years, and know that they were planted when the girls were babies. I absolutely cannot wait for them to be enormous weeping willows that the girls can play in and around, exploring and using their imaginations!
Anyone else planted any trees recently? Or done anything for sentimental value? Or have been inexplicably humming Christmas tunes?
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Just found you, thanks to a friend. Have you found Pinterest? FANTASTIC! Willow trees are a favorite of mine as well. Saw an arbor of sorts on Pinterest, made of willows spaced and bent to make the walls. You should check it out. You definitely have space for something like it.
-Julie Watson
I have the best memories of playing with my cousins in the giant willow tree on my grandparent’s farm. I’m sure someday your tree will be filled with little grandchildren, too.
i LOVE that idea Kendra! Maybe we’ll make a tradition of taking the girls’ pictures with their tree each year on their birthday! 🙂
What a great idea! That would be a great place to take yearly pictures so you can see your babies grow with their tree.
Christmas music really should be enjoyed year round. How can somebody not smile when hearing happy Christmas music?
My parents donated a Japanese Maple to our church when my husband and I got married so every Sunday we can see our tree (for about a year after we were married the bows were still on it too).
FYI: Willows are easy to start from someone else’s willow tree!! Just take a clipping at a joint, root it in water and then plant!!
We planted a flowering plum in honor of our son, Ben. We’ve been planning to continue planting on for each of our other kids. :::sigh::: Three of them are adults and we still haven’t got it done.
Love that yours are planted so early!!
I am always listening to Christmas music. My office mate frequently has to remind me of this (“Steph… this is a Christmas song…it’s April…”).
The girls look adorable in their little hats. And I love the idea of planting trees for them…I hope they have many special memories with their trees!
My 4 yr old son just recently requested to plant a tree, and I promised him we would. However, we plan on moving soon, so we want to wait till we certain of where we’re going.
and willows grow fast, too!
On my 1st Mothers Day, My Hubby got/plated a Lilac – Tree Form for the front yard! My little man was 3 months old, I love it! He is 2 now..
We would love to plant a tree for our child-to-be someday and build a tree house in it.
Lanie
It might depend on what part of the country you live in? Here in Iowa, we found them at Earl May. I’ve never heard of ordering trees online… sounds interesting!! I would make sure there’s a warranty. 🙂
I’ve gotten trees via mail order before – they are basically little twigs with roots – MUCH smaller than what you planted! Worth it if you have little money and a lot of time to watch them grow. My mother planted a “twig” cherry. I remember laughing when she planted it…it really looked like a twig. But it’s a nice sized cherry now. It probably took 5 years for it to look like a small tree.
Oh, and they do give a warranty. 🙂
We love willows too and want to plant one for my little girl. I have tried finding willow trees at nurseries and big box stores. No one seems to have them. We’re you able to find them locally? Some people have suggested ordering online. That seems weird for a tree though. Just wondering.