
I found lots of information about trees here (thanks everyone

Willow was the one which called to me the strongest and I wondered where I would find some willow which I didn't have to cut, or whether another tree would make a gift to me in the meantime...
In my workplace we have a few willow sculptures for the children and they had been recently pruned so when I noticed the extra pieces which had been pruned were put away in a safe place by the pond I asked for one. I brought home my length of willow and cut it into 3 pieces. One for my wand which I put into salt water, and the other two I put in a bucket of water to see if they would grow.
When I had dried my wand I found the bark peeled off easily and showed me the most beautiful white wood underneath. Yesterday I shaped and sanded my wand and I am delighted with the way it is progressing. It is very tactile and after another light sanding the preparation will be complete.
Has anyone else made themselves a wand? Did you mark/decorate it in any way? I plan to mark mine with one of my favourite Celtic symbols, then beeswax to protect it.
The other good news is that instead of lying neglected, the two extra pieces of willow are growing sprouting leaves and roots too!