Tulips

Skagit Valley tulips

Skagit Valley tulips

Tulips are what attract visitors to the Skagit Valley every April, and sometimes into May like this year. The tulip fields have generally reached full bloom. This week is the last one to appreciate the stunning view of large blocks of various colors. Don’t forget to stop by Dunbar Gardens!

rows of pink tulips

rows of pink tulips

tulip fields with Mount Baker in the distance

tulip fields with Mount Baker in the distance

workers culling the fields for disease and rogues

workers culling the fields for disease and rogues

open!

open!

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Thank you gift

Kathey Ervin purse

Kathey Ervin purse

Katherine recently received this lovely purse from basketmaker Kathey Ervin. Kathey has a business called The Basketry Studio in Sequim, WA. She makes baskets and teaches classes using Northwest native materials. The purse was an unexpected thank you for Katherine’s help in transporting Kathey’s work for the “Containers” show in Everett, as well as help on last November’s “Northwest Basket Weavers Guild regional basket day” in Sequim.

Kathey Ervin purse

Kathey Ervin purse

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Magazine baskets

three magazine baskets

three magazine baskets

Here are three recent willow magazine baskets made by Katherine. The basket is woven on an oval hoop frame and the stakes are scallomed on. The sides can be woven in a variety of weaves like the French randing above or the slewing below. The shape and lengthwise handle make it great for magazines, books, or newspapers. One customer was even using one to schlep her laptop to the office. But the original request was from a customer for a nice magazine basket to set aside a living room chair. It has evolved into a popular style available in different sizes.

Spike approves!

Spike approves!

P.S. More than just a magazine basket! This past Sunday we sold the middle sized basket to Mary and Jim because of the nice fit for carrying wine bottles. The smaller one went to a guy who was going to buy some cut tulip bunches to put in the basket and give it as a gift – a souvenir from the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

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Planting willow

willow cuttings

willow cuttings

What to do with those willow cuttings? Willows are usually propagated by planting hardwood cuttings directly in the soil. This method works especially well with willows grown for basketry and other garden uses. Dunbar Gardens sells cuttings about 11 inches in length like the bundles in the photo above. On the farm, I usually  find that an 8 inch cutting is adequate.

planting willow cuttings

planting willow cuttings

I till the soil in advance and then simply insert the cutting into the ground with the buds facing up.

new willow planting

new willow planting

These basketry willows are planted in rows that are 32 inches apart and spaced 8 inches in the row. After the photo was taken, I trimmed some of these cuttings back to two or three buds remaining above ground.

planted willows leafing out

planted willows leafing out

Success rate on the willows generally is quite high. I have had some disappointments. For example, Salix purpurea x daphnoides does not seem to root quite as easily and S. purpurea ‘nana’ has very slender wood  which makes rooting in the field more challenging.

second year growth

second year growth

A frequent question is what to do the second spring? I cut back most of our willows to within an inch of the ground level like in the above photo. This pruning will encourage the growth near the base. The stool is going to get a little higher each year that the willow is coppiced; so it is important to start low.

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