Haunters of waterways and guardians of hedgerow; jewels of the garden and common companions in the fields: willows are at once the most poetic and practical of plants. For millennia they have played a key role in cultures across the northern hemisphereforming baskets, furniture, fences and walls; treating illnesses; and becoming objects of artistic celebration in Monet s paintings and Shakespeare s tragedies. The genus "Salix" is now increasingly used for soil stabilization and biofuel, highlighting willow s continued importance in the present day.
This well illustrated book leads us from Monet s willows to Tang poetry, and from uses in medicine to environmental protection, in a seamless account of the special place which this tree holds in our culture. "Willow" will appeal to anyone interested in gardens, the environment, or the cultural history of plants."