looking for Michigan carvers

[Mryooper]

Originally Posted by woodknomb

here is the one diamond willow with the root buld

labrador head from diamond willow roothead, finished lol

[mark faggion]

hello i live just south of lansing in eaton rapids i to iam looking for dimond willow.mark

[AlArchie]

Mark, Ijust checked my Audubon Field Guide to Trees, and it shows diamond willow growing down as far as the Ohio border, south of Lansing, so I would imagine that if you prowl the RR grades and river banks, you'd come across some. If you can get into the rural areas where development has taken over abandon farm land, you may also hit a bonanza. the stuff grows fairly rapidly and starts to infringe on unplowed ground almost as fast as the tag alders do. Look around and among the tags. I'm amost sure I've seen the stuffwhen I've driven through your area.

Nice treatment on that root ball, Mryooper! Of course, what should be expected from a fellow Yooper?

Al

[Mryooper]

Originally Posted by mark faggion

hello i live just south of lansing in eaton rapids i to iam looking for dimond willow.mark

I found the best way to locate diamond willow when you have located a area is to look for the deadest tree in a clump. Just like Al told me and you it looks like tag adler , but the bark looks more grey. I will tell you this much beware of the TICKS they are in full force now. Second advice. Electric or battery operated chainsaw is a must or a machette. Gas saws are nice , but a bit noisey if you are trying to be stealthy about collecting. My advice to that is to ask the land owners if you can find them. Most times if you say you are just
cutting them for walking sticks they will let you take them down. Not to many know the value of the DW to a carver and consider it scrub brush.
Some places to check for DW is next to low lieing area were the water builds up , but not to much. I have noticed they dont live long in a very swampy area. They grow best along trails and power line areas as well. Just above a wet area or on the very edge. seems to be the best place. THe more packed together the DW is the better chance of more diamonds. But even if the DX has very little diamonds in it , it is still a nice carving wood. I have a 6" girth diamond willow drying right now for a project. Alot of twist and <> in it.
Pat

[revnate]

Where I grew up we had diamond willow is southern MI. It was by a swamp. I will have to go out there when I go visit my folks next. It is in Morenci.