Glorious Trees in Our Neighborhood: Wonderful Willows

An Autumn Golden Weeping Willow tree created with pen, ink and watercolours.  

What’s your tree sign? I’m a Willow (The Observer)! Google Celtic Tree Astrology to discover your tree sign. So fun!

Have you noticed the beautiful Willow trees around our neighborhood? I’m especially in awe of the gorgeous Golden Weeping Willow trees around Beacon Hill Park. You may notice that they love being close to water, so you’ll find them around the lakes in the park. Did you know that they help naturally purify the water?

Willow trees typically only live for about 30-50 years. They root easily: a twig can fall off a tree into the soil and a new tree can start sprouting. They are fast growing and once established, they can grow 8’ per year. In the Spring, they are one of the first trees to start growing their fresh, green leaves. And in the Autumn, the Weeping Willows turn beautiful shades of yellow and when they lose their leaves…they’re among the last of the season to do so.

This card is from Helga’s Lil’ Tree Advice Cards. Willow trees are all about bending gently with the wind.  

There are over 400 species of Willow trees from around the world. My favourite by far is the Weeping Willow. They have such beauty and grace. As you can see with my illustrations for this article, I just can’t get enough of them…I love trying to capture their beauty in pen and ink. Even Van Gogh was known to be taken with Willow trees and did many drawings and paintings of them in the Netherlands and the south of France. And fun fact, the best charcoal for drawing is made from White Willow tree twigs.

Willow trees have an incredible history and can be found in many ancient myths and legends. Ancient Celtic peoples referred to the Willow as the Tree of Enchantment and believed that it enhanced psychic abilities. They performed healing ceremonies, poetry, music and more under their large canopies.

Part of Helga’s series of Weeping Willows, this one was drawn on antique and vintage ephemera.

The willow tree has also been known to grant wishes! To make a wish, talk to a Willow tree explaining what you’d like to see come to fruition. Then ask permission to take one of its twigs and tie it into a knot while repeating your wish. When it comes true, untie the knot and return it to the tree and express gratitude.

All Willow trees are edible, but that doesn’t mean they taste good! Their leaves are even higher in vitamin C than oranges, but they can be quite bitter. Their inner bark is high in calcium, magnesium and zinc. It can be eaten raw, prepared like spaghetti or dried and ground into flour.

The healing properties of the Willow tree have been known and used since ancient times. The Egyptians used them for pain and fever, as did the Romans, Celtics and Greeks. And even deer rub their heads against Willow tree bark when they’re growing in their antlers.

Today, tinctures of Willow tree bark are still used to treat arthritis, pain and fevers. It’s where we get the main component for aspirin.

Indigenous peoples in North America also used Willow trees to treat pain, fever, arthritis, headaches, toothaches and more…some even called it “The Toothache Tree.” They also used the branches to make sweat lodges, wigwams, paintbrushes, beds, baskets and much more.

Since the twigs are so pliable, even to this day, they are used to make baskets, furniture, walls, fences, beehives and much more.

Do you have a favourite tree in our neighborhood that you’d love to learn more about? Please reach out and let me know.

This article was originally published in the James Bay Beacon newspaper in November 2024.

Helga Strauss is a local artist, educator, therapeutic arts practitioner and tree lover… find her at HelgaStrauss.com. Join her at historic Emily Carr House (built in 1863) for fun arts and crafts classes celebrating this beautiful season, including her popular Emily Carr Inspired Art Class on Trees. Sign up on Eventbrite through The Carr House Community Society.