Dear Horseshoe, on the first day I started my Horticultural career my new boss asked me to give the botanical names of 10 plants he showed me. I had no idea at all about the names and the first one he asked me was a weeping willow. He then in depth told me it was a Salix. This does not come from latin but old English I was informed. Sal meaning near and ix meaning water.
For getting the name wrong he made me clean the massive pond in the park, I worked at of all the leaves in the dirty pond. It was January and freezing in that pond. He stated "It was character building for me."
After three very cold days of cleaning, he explained that willow will root almost anywhere. So as soon as I had warmed up in the spring. I was shown how to simply stick bits of willow into the soil and it grew.
Amazing plant, but not in a frozen pond in January. Near water he said, yes three days in freezing water, cleaning out willow leaves.
Hope you are well? Keep warm and safe.
Regards.
Neil.
