Weeping Willow

by Ariane ~ August 18, 2010

Weeping willows were among Claude Monet’s favorite trees for many reasons, one of them being the translucent quality of their leaves.

On the side of his water lily pond at Giverny, Monet planted several willows.

Two of them still survive, although some branches start to become hollow.

But young willows planted thirty years ago, like the one on the picture, are now mature, as big as Monet could have seen them.

Weeping willows fascinate because of their vertical twigs that beautifully reflect into the pond.

Visitors will also see two other kinds of willows, the tortuous ones, very decorative, and the basket willows.

Generally pruned drastically to force the willow to produce new twigs every year, that will be cut to weave baskets, these willows like the river borders and are part of the traditional landscape of Normandy.

In Monet’s gardens, however, one of them was allowed to grow, and its branches pointed to the sky like a V make it resemble a person with the arms up. A very happy willow!