Pussy Willow
The pussy willow is a short-lived, fast-growing, native tree or large shrub belonging to the genus Salix. It is one of the earliest harbingers of spring, when small fuzzy gray/silvery nubs – also called catkins - start appearing along the branches, before any leaves appear. They are named for their resemblance to tiny cats’ paws, and they feel like fur, so that young children often wonder whether they are animals instead of plants.
Pussy willows are actually flowers just before they fully bloom. Their soft hairs act as insulation to protect them from cold temperatures. There are many species of willows; they typically grow in wetlands and are native to many ecosystems in the world.
Catkins usually don’t rely on pollinators to spread their pollen; they simply release it into the wind and hope to land on the female flower parts. They release huge amounts of pollen which are often the culprit of many a spring sneeze.
What do you love about this particular creature?
What do they reveal to you about God and our faith?
For me pussy willows have always been the quintessential symbol of Easter. They are used in many Easter and spring flower arrangements. I love the idea that they rely on the wind to spread their pollen, and consequently on trust and faith in Life for their procreation.
We, too, need to trust in God for our lives to take shape. One thought that comes to mind is how exquisite the world is made, down to the last living cell, and including the pussy willow. I wonder how long it took for this bush/tree to evolve into the very complex being it is today. All evolution is a constant movement toward greater complexity that involves reliance on community.
The pussy willows live in community with the wind for their survival. Like in the parable of the sower, “some seeds fall on rocky terrain, some fall on good soil.” And in time new plants come alive. We, too, through our trust in God, become agents for the creation of communities.
Meanwhile, children and adults alike can rejoice in these beautiful and comforting soft nubs. Let us always be in awe before these miracles of nature and let us be grateful.
Author - Lilian Revel
Lilian Revel is a spiritual director and lay pastoral care giver. She has been shaped by exposure to multiple international environments and ethnicities. She now lives in southern Connecticut, near sea and forests.
God of Word and Light, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of all creatures above and below. Mercifully grant that, as the disciples were granted to see Christ on earth, our eyes would be opened to the spiritual reality all around us today; through Jesus the Wisdom of Creation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Creation Collect for St Michael and All Angels from Season of Creation, A Celebration Guide for Episcopal Parishes