Easy Money Ranch

I love our willow tree.  It is a grand old willow that resides along the stream in our front yard, with long sweeping branches that brush the grass.  The kids love to climb the willows broad spreading branches.  Birds love to nest in the many nooks and crannies among the web of stems in the willow.  I love to sit under the shad of the willow, it is like a cave under there with the branches protecting you from the sun.  It makes a stunning backdrop for pictures and helps to keep the front yard a little drier as it soaks up the water table around us.  Shannon hates the willow.  Of course that is because he gets whipped in the face by the branches when he mows under it.  He says he wishes the tree no ill will but I have heard him mumble things like "pole saw" and "chain saw" under his breath as he looks upon my gorgeous tree.  AND, oh this is just the worst, he sprayed my tree with herbicide this summer!  He "claims" it was just an accident.  That he was spraying the yard and it got hit by overspray.  I don't believe him!  Lucky for him she is a tough old Grandmother Willow and all that happened was a band of leaves shriveled up and fell off.  It is almost looking good again.  My dad said I can take branches off the tree and plant them.  This is one thing I am going to try!  How beautiful would a willow look right up by the house!  Especially since we lost our big shade tree to the south for no reason earlier this summer. I think Shannon will just learn to love them all.