I don't know about the curly willow, that sort of display is a dust collector in my mind, but I did get a diffuser. I found a really unusual one with flowers, curly sticks and straight sticks. I just loved it. I bought a refill for it that was purple. The purple has wicked up and the kids think it looks like black mold so now I guess I have to pitch the entire thing. I haven't seen one as interesting and pretty as this so I really hate to do it. Maybe I can try drying them out and some bleach?

In my house, all of those things would be cat toys, so I have no experience with them. I've heard all sorts of horror stories about spilled reed diffusers, and again, looks like a cat toy to me, but I did see some spillproof oil diffusers where the lid has a wooden dowel that goes down into the oil. Of course, it's not very decorative that way.

I have curly willow arrangements in nearly every room- it helps that the stuff is super easy to grow.
I have a new digital camera and will post pictures asap.

I like curly willow and have used it in various arrangements. Currently put away but the last time I used it I painted it white and arranged it in floral foam in 2 urns on my front porch. Added some grey moss, natural pinecones, and silver balls. Stayed outside over Christmas and into early spring when I realized the chipmunks were having too much fun with it. Everything needed to be disinfected/thrown out. I did keep the curly willow tho and will repaint it as it's now weathered.

Curly willow is like any other decorative accessory - if you like it, use it, if not, don't. I think it has an interesting shape and adds to the natural feel I want in my home. And, yes, there is more to it than 'stuffing it in a vase'.

Here is a link that might be useful: some curly willow arrangements

A similar thing we have right now, which is giving me NO END of joy, is branches (thing - is; branches - are -- whichever one you want) of an Italian plum tree that I pruned off because they got over our blueberries (neighbor's tree). The branches were in bud when I brought them in an d put them in water, but now they've opened and have those gorgeous, sweet-smelling plum blossoms against bear branches, coming out at gorgeous skew curves from a tall narrow vase (filled with water and indoor-plant fertilizer). I'm in living-bouquet heaven! It changes every day as more and more flowers and hints of leaves come out. It's a bit sad because they won't ever bear fruit, but it's better than having just thrown them on the compost heap. It's going to be a February tradition from now on : )

They sell those reed diffusers with the flowers and curly pieces at Walmart in various colors and scents. They're quite pretty. I have several of them and have never spilled them, though I would never put one on any piece of good wood furniture.

As for the curly willow, I was thinking about using some in a large glass vase in the den next to the fireplace. I will probably put some other dried plant-type things in there, maybe things with interesting seed pods, etc. I'm a big fan of silk flowers to add color, but they're not "real" and I know it's not really "in style" to use them, so I will try branches. But I might put some silk flowers in with them, maybe something branchy with small flowers like a cherry blossom type branch.

OK - you have my interest! What is curly willow? I looked at Luckygals pictures - still don't know which is the curly willow?

Tuesday

If you buy fresh curly willow (not dried) it will last for a very long time and even start to root. I have a large tree in the backyard and use the trimmings. Some willows are curlier than others.

Found fresh at some grocery store floral depts. Give a call to florests and see if they have the fresh. You can either let it root (then plant if interested) or dry on it's own.

This is a good time of year to find fresh. Also love trimming the spring buds as mentioned above. Sometimes they even root. Or hang them upside down and you'll have some dried flowers to play with in arrangements.

Luckygal, I *do* like it, I just don't know how to use it. I like the organic shapes and colors. I also like the arrangements in the link, but not sure if I could manage the upkeep of fresh flowers mixed in. Painting them white sounds interesting too.

That's too funny about the black mold comment, arcy. I think I would just keep it anyway, maybe try bleaching the sticks.

Good point about spillage of reed diffusers. I have a few trays and shelves that would work. Knock on wood, we don't really have a lot of spills or accidents around here.

Re rooting: indeed, willows love life so much that you can make a great free rooting solution *for other plants* by boiling up willow in water.

Here is a link that might be useful: elixir vitae for cuttings

Disregard the Christmas decor and see the curly willow in my clear blue vase.

lemonlime, I did a blog post a couple of weeks ago about using branches and twigs that might give you some ideas. I found the pictures from the Houzz website, you might do your own search there for curly willow.

Hope you'll post a picture if you do something.

Here is a link that might be useful: Twigs and branches for decorating

Root it and plant it ... I have a curly willow tree by my pond that came from a flower arrangement from my Dad's funeral. I've sniped off branches from it and started other branches that have grown into bushes. Living memories ...

Mine is in a vase sitting on the floor behind a chair. It's sort of taking the place of a wall decoration there. You can kind of see it in this photo (behind the green chair).
{{!gwi}}