Reed Island Willows
Posted on March 21, 2007, by kiliii.
Filed Under Columbia River Gorge |
We are at winter’s end, and the willows wave at us from the shore of Reed Island, a boat-only accessible island on the Columbia River.
So with only days to go until spring, we hurriedly packed our willow clippers into kayaks and canoes, and set off for the great Reed Island. What did we have in mind for the willows? I had visions of ribs for future kayaks. Peter had visions of willow baskets. The beavers had visions of delicious steamed willow shoots.
Now in the spirit of gratitude, we gathered a great many willow shoots, but noted that the good straight willow shoots seemed to all come from the same plants. Why was that? Were some plants simply straighter and more compliant? Or was it perhaps that the beavers had been maintaining the willows for us?
The notion of beavers keeping the willow gardens in good shape for us isn’t that far off, really. When beavers chew off willow branches, they are effectively ‘coppicing’, or pruning those branches. Between previous willow gatherers, the beavers, and a heritage of native caretakers tending the willow beds, we found a large amount of straight, branchless willows, great for basketry. We also spotted the signs of beavers and nutria, the first stinging nettles of the season, and listened to the great blue herons as they sailed by.
So after a long, misty day, we packed off into our boats and set for the northern shore. Several of us had never been in kayaks before, but by the end of our day’s journey, felt more comfortable and I’d reckon, that much closer to the spirit of the great Columbia River, being connected to it through the thin skins of our boats.
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