Well….the day began simply enough….with the circle we marked out a week ago and continued to prep, prod and water each day, in hope the ground would be soft enough for today’s much anticipated Living Willow Workshop with Penny Simons. We’ve been hanging out for rain for a couple of months now and of course it would choose this morning to fall on us! But in fact, it was really only enough to settle the dust, and by the time everyone headed out to begin the task, although cold and overcast, it was dry – perfect willow weather.
Penny gave a terrific presentation explaining the background of Living Willow before heading outside to concentrate on the practical aspects of the task and preparation of all the willow rods and whips she brought in bundles……just foraging for the material is a big job, so it’s been a week of preparation for today all ’round.
Some of the finer material for the sides and detail – how I love a bundle of raw material!
Then the work began and with everyone pitching in, the initial structure went up under Penny’s watchful eye without a hitch.
No-one seemed to believe me when I suggested it would fine up and we could have lunch in the sun….so I took the hint and set lunch in front of the fire – a hearty, garden-inspired candle-lit lunch for the hard workers!
Then it was back outside to complete the work! In this particular instance, participants took away a set of new skills as well as new-found knowledge and inspiration, while Glenmore has the result of their work. What a team they were and I very much hope we will see many Living Willow structures popping up all over as a result of the day.
And I hope they’ll all be back to visit and watch the progress of their work (of course it’s up to me now to keep it alive….as well as to look after future growth….I’d better not let them down!) and I expect it will take on a life of its own. But it’s these terrific girls who are responsible for its existence and I send a huge thank you to Penny of course, for making this long-held desire of mine to build a Living Willow structure at Glenmore finally happen, as well as to Julie, Nancy, Rosie, Georgia, Kirsten, Cherylle, Margie, Vanessa and Sophie. My challenge is to ensure it becomes a froth of foliage for them all to see at Open Garden in October!