PUSSY WILLOWS

The story goes that Tom's grandmother, Beulah Huber journeyed from her home in the river hills of southern Lancaster County (Conestoga, PA) to the Philadelphia Flower Show in the 1930's.  She purchased a few whips of what were called "French" pussy willows - the largest, softest and most beautiful she had ever seen.  She promptly rooted the stems and planted them in the rear lawn.  The tree grew immense and was loved for it's large silky February catkins - and scorned by Clyde Huber for it's exuberant growth.  In the early 1980's Tom and his sister would rise early before school, cut the pussy willow stalks and sell them to a vendor at the Lancaster Central Farmer's Market.  Thankfully my mother-in-law had the foresight to root and plant a tree in her garden - and today we continue to enjoy these fabulous harbingers of spring.