Wild Foods for NRs and not yet released squirrels!

[olorin19]

I so miss Willow trees.
But we have loquats and they are just now ready to eat. My kids love them and the wilds love them as well ��

This looks like what I have in my yard - apparently works in zones 5-7 - garden center had it named as a Japanese willow -

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden....empercode=c811

It is pretty indestructible - severe pruning just makes it grow more vigorously

[olorin19]

Willow buds opening up for Saint Patrick's Day -

[olorin19]

Catkins starting to appear - wild squirrels now more actively feeding on them.

I give the Japanese willow a vigorous trimming every year after catkin season, as otherwise it would take over half my yard. This year I am going to experiment with freezing short sections of branch with catkins on them to feed next winter once fresh wild food becomes scarce. (Early last fall, when there was still growth happening, I cut and froze sections of branch that were just bark with green underneath. Guro was happy to chew on and strip these over this past winter.)

[olorin19]

Here is a branch segment where Guro has eaten all the catkins - compare to branch segment covered with catkins in previous post - Guro went through four branch segments with over 20 catkins -

[olorin19]

Afternoon snack -

[olorin19]

Williow catkins getting closer to peak - lots of wild squirrels actively eating them -