Willow Towers

We're using a willow that's something like a pussy willow because we need sticks that can be used for the towers. We've cut some of the bigger ones, just close to the bottom.

The first thing we do is get rid of the leaves on the twigs. It's easiest to work with the ones that are nice, long and straight.

The willow that's now clear of leaves is what we'll use as the weavers on the tower. Larger, thicker stems--willow or some other wood--will serve as the uprights.

We set them up in a teepee and wire it in place so it's easier to work with. It's best to use flexible wire to connect the top of the teepee. Then spread out each of the uprights around a macrame ring. It's helpful to have a second set of hands so you can space the uprights evenly. Then we attach the ring to the uprights with flexible wire. Check the verticalness of it, and if you need to make a few adjustments, you can do that now.

Then you're ready to weave. At this point, really, anything goes. You could use any material--willow, grapevine or red dogwood, whatever you have in your yard.

Once you've finished weaving, tie the top with some extra willow. This will hide the wire and make the tower extra sturdy. And finally, for the finishing touches, snip off the willow tails that are sticking out. And don't forget to lop off the top of your tower.

Now you should have the perfect size sculpture for your garden. Next, comes the fun part--placing the tower in the garden. You can leave it as is, or you can plant some climbing vines around the base. Then it becomes a blooming tower. Either way, your willow never looked so good.