After a spell of sunny, mild weather that made gardening a delight, we are experiencing some rain. Now, I am always happy to see the rain, and it is so important for the fast growing plants in spring, but it does not take the edge of the spring fever encountered by gardening addicts who are confined indoors.
Their enthusiasm has to find another outlet.
Well, we had just cut the willows and I know they should be dried and re-soaked but…
We decided to start off by bringing our aluminium planter indoor. It is still holding the remains of dead basil plants and the re-surging shoots of Melissa officianalis (makes excellent herbal tea!).
We stuck seven sturdy cut willow stems around the planter to provide the correct diameter of base for the structure.
We had to move it to give us more room for the weaving and we started to make a woven base and then tied the top of the wigwam.
There had been no design plan so the second row was added “by eye”.
Then the kitchen steps were called into play and the last two woven layers added.
It popped easily out of the planter and is completely self-supporting and two and a half metres tall.
We were rather surprised that we have managed our first attempt and we have more supports planned. We don’t really need such tall ones it just seemed a shame to waste such tall willow.
One precaution we have taken is to store our wigwam inside the atelier for the moment as we are pretty sure that if we stuck it in the ground just now it would probably start growing – and that is not the objective.
a french garden 
Well done. A masterpiece or should that be a master and missus piece? 🙂
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It was a joint project and we needed two pairs of hands although, with experience, it should be able to be made by one person. Amelia
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Very impressive!……you shame me with your excellent use of free resources and time…….I have spent these rainy windy days cruising garden Centres and spending a fortune on new things to plant….I am in the process of transforming a jungle into a garden ….yes, I have used some cuttings and grown things from seed but a feeling that with advancing years…..I want quicker results!
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I must admit I regret not having invested into some larger plants, like some trees, earlier on. There just was too much to do and it seemed a lot of money at the time. If you are sure of where you want to put things, I think some good plants/trees from a reputable nursery are a good investment. They don’t stop you having fun with friends cuttings and plant sales. Amelia
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Nicely done !
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Very clever and possibly holds some Carbon The Copy Cat ideas for me I think. We have lots of willow and lots of rain so who knows……
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I hope you have fun. It was easier than I thought it would be and I have other ideas for the vegetable garden and the peonies. Amelia
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Excellent use of williow. I use it to make hurdles to hang up on an ugly wire fence
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They are very handy. Kourosh made a short “fence” support for one part of the garden last year. Amelia
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Amelia, I told you years ago that you two could weave! 🙂 Well done!
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That looks wonderful, I look forward to seeing it covered in plants
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That’s a tall order (sorry the pun) the thing is two and a half metres high. 🙂 Amelia
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Well done, I would love to do that. Clever to use the planter as a vase.
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You need a strong support to hold the uprights and it was the right base size. We hope to use them in loops to support the peonis that are just pushing through. Amelia
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Hi Amelia..
Probably start growing…. you are “avin’ a larf”!
Will start growing…. and even this will leaf partially…. using residual water in the stem!!
I make dead-hedges here… as they rot down they make a good habitat at the bottom for hibernating creatures and are a neat way of getting rid of all the brushwood without using power/fire.
I have had those come into leaf…. until the heat kills the leaves!!
As for your work… excellent quality… Horrid Horticulture and other companies charge a small fortune for these!!
I can just see Morning Glory, or Black-eyed Susan …. or even Runner Beans…. growing over this!
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I had thought of that and we scorched the growing ends with our gas canister torch. We hope it will keep it from shooting when it goes into the vegetable garden. Amelia
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Well done Amelia and Khourosh, willow weaving is quite therapeutic, and very satisfying n’est pas?
Best wishes
Julian
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It certainly kept us occupied on a wet day and gave us more ideas of things to make. 🙂 Amelia
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