Black Willow

Black Willow leaf and bud.

Black Willow

A revisit of the willow tree I posted last August.

One of the things that is noticeable of willows is the bud lies flat against the twig. The leaves are long and narrow but you don't see that in the winter. What you do see is the thin twigs.

Leviticus 23:40 "Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days."

So now when I see Willows I will think of rejoicing before the Lord. Thank you Jesus for what You do for me. I trust in You.

Black Willow

One of the advantages of willow is for stream bank stabilization. The root system is dense and will hold the ground well.

Willow tea was used by the Greeks for stiff joints and rheumatic pain. In the 1800's it was also use to reduce fevers and as a pain killer.

Twigs can be split and used in basket weaving. The life span for this tree ranges from 40 to 100 years.

The use of Willows for stream bank stabilization points to our need for stability that comes from a purpose that we have in Jesus.

Isaiah 33:6 "And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the LORD is his treasure."

Father, I look for your guidance in life. When I am weak, You are strong. When I lack wisdom You give me Your guidence. Thank you. In Jesus name you are doing it.

Black Willow

When you see willow you know water is near. God will give us life sustaining water.

Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

John 4:13,14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Flooded Black Willow

I decided to hike back into some woods today (31 Aug 2011)



A photo of the same area a year ago.

Here I am back at a Black willow stand of trees along the Missouri river. These trees have been in standing water for 3 months. There will be more of the same for a while.

One of the lessons I am learning from this is that we need to be able to withstand attacks against our ability to live in the spirit. Opposition will come, but will we stand in the midst of the opposition?

Each of us has the ability to withstand tests to our faith. They vary from person to person just as trees have different responses to attacks to their health.

Black willow can withstand flooding better than most trees. Prolonged flooding has been known to kill about 50% of the trees. It will be interesting to see how this stand of trees does to more than 3 months under water.

1 Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."

Black Willow Wolf Tree

I ran across this Black willow tree in an urban setting. It is a wolf tree because it occupies a small lot all by itself. I have seen other Black willow trees that grow like this when they don't face any competition.

Willow swamp and Great Blue Heron

My favorite willow swamp. Missouri river has been up. As I was sitting there I did not see any birds. I was wondering if I should leave and a Great Blue heron came swooping in. It landed across the way covered with brush. I could not tell where it was with the glassed on it. It flew off about 5 minutes later.

Stand of Black Willow

Photo of Black willow along the Missouri river.

Below is a photo of while I am hiking to the forest. It is further up the bank.

A carpet of cottonwood is next to this stand. It must of seeded in during a different flood.

I came across this area again with the water at least 10 feet higher. Notice the tops of the Cottonwood trees. The stems in front of the Cottonwood are Willow. This has been a good place for devotions because of a log I would sit on. Now I wonder if that log will still be there, or will it be moved down the river by the flood? There would be an indigo bunting that would greet me when I came there.

Willow can withstand flooding for a long time.

Matthew 7:25
"And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

Just as willow is made to withstand flooding so we can withstand the tests of life as we have Jesus within us.


Article of Black Willow forest

Here is a photo showing the stems of a Black willow stand.

Devotions at Black Willow Forest

I came to these woods along the Missouri river to have devotions. I read the 3 chapters of Titus. It was good just sitting and watching the wind go through the leaves. I saw an Indigo Bunting. All blue. But time marches on and I had to leave. I had been near here before and I definitely want to return to this site. God is good and I enjoy being still in the handiwork He has made.

The goodness of God continues to be with me. Thank you Lord for your wonderful works to the children of men.

Willow will dominate an area that is prone to flooding. Another species that thrives here is cottonwood. Willow has an edge on Cottonwood in flood areas. Cottonwood has an edge on the amount of seeds it puts out. I was looking at the sky near here yesterday and it was full of contwood seeds. It almost looked like it was snowing.

Black Willow Tree

River Bottom Woods

Hiking along a stretch of woods by the Missouri river I came across this multi stem Mulberry. I was not sure what kind of Mulberry it was. I later went back looking for the tree and could not find it. I will try again from the same direction I did the first time.


Later on my hike I came across these Silver maples. I do not remember seeing any of these along this stretch of river. There are plenty of Box elder maple to be seen, I was surprised to see these.


Looking down at the river there is a patch of Black willow. This is the only tree sized willow that grows around here. Willow is the only tree growing along this stretch of river. It can withstand more flooding than most trees.

Ezekiel 17:5
" 'He took some of the seed of your land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water,

Black Willow on Lake Edge

Here are some Black willow trees on the up stream side of a lake.

Psalm 119:162
"I rejoice at Your word,
As one who finds great spoil."

Survive Flooding

Black willow (most likely) in its element. High water and flooding.


Reading a report that listed trees that can survive flooding of more than one year.

These trees came from a study in the Missouri river and lower Mississippi river after the 1993 flood.

Water hickory
Pecan
Button brush
Swamp privet
Green ash
Water locust
Deciduous holly
Water elm
Overcup oak
Nuttall oak
Black willow
Bald cypress.

Job 27:18-20
" He has built his house like the spider’s web,
Or as a hut which the watchman has made.
He lies down rich, but never again;
He opens his eyes, and it is no longer.
Terrors overtake him like a flood;
A tempest steals him away in the night. "