Journal

My lovely pussy willow is history. Pussy willows are a rite of spring in the midwest - when the weather is just hinting that it will warm up, the little furry catkins emerge. (Plus it's worth having a pussy willow just so I can see Pat's face get red when I say in the spring, "Oh, look at all the little pussies.")

Anyway, when I planted it I thought the information said it was not like other willows with invasive roots. But it had grown to about three feet above the deck, so I checked again and the article said don't plant around water pipes or septic systems. I cut all of the branches on Sunday and Pat made them into mulch with his shreader. We're determined to have a Japanese maple so that's what we'll put in the spot. It should get enough water there.

Pat waxed the drip spouts on our solar cascade fountain and the water flows much more smoothly now. What a nifty idea! He also cleaned it out while I was in Iowa this week so it looks much better. Since the pussy willow is gone, the fountain is much more exposed and the birds love it. There were several bluebirds there and some of the birds sit in the little pots. It's pretty cute.