Woodworking - Black Diamond Willow
To see examples of my black diamond willow woodworking items, return
to the 'Woodworking' tab above and click on the drop-down categories.
Story of the Black Diamond Willow
‘Black Diamond Willow’ is a folklore term for several small trees that create diamonds (technically referred to as chancres).
The diamonds are created by a tree’s response to an injury and/or infection. The geographic range of these trees is from the upper Midwest United States, into Canada, and Alaska.
There are six or so types of trees (mostly willows, but also ‘Iron Wood’) that create these diamonds. None of these trees are actually called black diamond willow; although, there is a tree called ‘Black Willow’, of which is larger and as far as I can tell, doesn’t produce these types of diamonds.
The tree that I have found that produces diamonds is called a ‘Bebb Willow’. This shrub tree is about 10- to 15-feet tall, usually grows in clumps, and has lime green colored leaves in summer. It grows in West Central Minnesota around swamps, streams, rivers, and lakes created by the last glacier (10,000 to 12,000 years ago). Cattails and Dogwood (a short, red-whippy willow) are often in and around the area, too. I have found all of my black diamond willow sticks around swamps.
Here is what I have learned how the diamonds are created. In spring time, a beetle chews its way through the bark of the willow tree (usually where a branch originates) – burrowing holes and tunnels, as it feeds and may even lay its eggs. Eventually, the beetle leaves and flies away; and from what I understand, it leaves behind a fungus (Valsa Sordida Nitscke), which eventually creates the black coating on the diamonds. The tree responds to the fungus as an infection. As a way for the whole tree to survive, part of the tree dies to isolate or encapsulate the infection – thus, forming the start of a diamond, that grows each year with annual rings expanding outward. As the edge of the diamond continues to die (and if you would allow me to say, as the tree continues to sacrifice part of itself for its own survival), the tree increases its protection by growing a larger diamond.
As you may or may not know, every tree has ‘Heartwood’ and ‘Summerwood’. The ‘Summerwood’ is the outer living part of the tree (under the bark) that has a system of tubules which carry food and water from the ground to the leaves. Every year, even as a healthy (non-infected) tree grows, part of the ‘Summerwood’ dies to become ‘Heartwood’ in the center or core of the tree. The ‘Heartwood’ provides strength to the tree, kind of like steel rebar in concrete. The ‘Summerwood’ -- in addition to being a conduit of nourishment for the tree -- also provides flexibility. So as the wind blows; the tree gives, flexes, and sways, and as a result doesn’t break – but stands strong, firm, and proud in the ground, due to the strength and rigidity of the dead ‘Heartwood’.
The color of living ‘Summerwood’ is a light, cream color; while the color of dead ‘Heartwood’ is a darker, chestnut color. Since the diamonds are dead like ‘Heartwood’, the diamonds are chestnut color underneath – coated with the black fungus pigment on their surface.
The wood from these little willow trees is very hard, dense, light, and strong – unlike what we normally think of as a willow tree being, like their cousin the big beautiful ‘Weeping Willow’, which is quite soft and pithy, compared to the small shrub willows that make diamonds.
Canes and walking sticks are popular items made from ‘Black Diamond Willow’ branches. But also, remember that these shrub willow trees tend to grow next to swamps, wetlands, rivers, streams, or lakes; and are somewhat water- and rot-resistant. As a result, in the past (before steel and green-treated wood posts were invented), farmers used to cut these willow branches for fence posts that they would place in their fields that bordered wet, swampy areas.
Also, pirates, soldiers, warriors, careless magicians and acrobats, and even other more harmless and ordinary people who had lost a leg or two, for whatever unfortunate reason; would cut a branch from the shrub willow tree to make an artificial peg leg, which was light and strong. The lowly prosthesis, with its natural diamonds, had beautiful personality and charm and would soon become the center of attention and instigated many delightful conversations with people that they otherwise would never have met along their limpy way.
Cutting Tips: I always cut my ‘Black Diamond Willow’ branches in the winter for three reasons:
1) There are no bugs.
2) I can walk over the swamp without sinking.
3) The wood is dormant and dry, so is less likely to crack later.
To learn more about these trees, Google ‘Black Diamond Willow’.
to the 'Woodworking' tab above and click on the drop-down categories.
Story of the Black Diamond Willow
‘Black Diamond Willow’ is a folklore term for several small trees that create diamonds (technically referred to as chancres).
The diamonds are created by a tree’s response to an injury and/or infection. The geographic range of these trees is from the upper Midwest United States, into Canada, and Alaska.
There are six or so types of trees (mostly willows, but also ‘Iron Wood’) that create these diamonds. None of these trees are actually called black diamond willow; although, there is a tree called ‘Black Willow’, of which is larger and as far as I can tell, doesn’t produce these types of diamonds.
The tree that I have found that produces diamonds is called a ‘Bebb Willow’. This shrub tree is about 10- to 15-feet tall, usually grows in clumps, and has lime green colored leaves in summer. It grows in West Central Minnesota around swamps, streams, rivers, and lakes created by the last glacier (10,000 to 12,000 years ago). Cattails and Dogwood (a short, red-whippy willow) are often in and around the area, too. I have found all of my black diamond willow sticks around swamps.
Here is what I have learned how the diamonds are created. In spring time, a beetle chews its way through the bark of the willow tree (usually where a branch originates) – burrowing holes and tunnels, as it feeds and may even lay its eggs. Eventually, the beetle leaves and flies away; and from what I understand, it leaves behind a fungus (Valsa Sordida Nitscke), which eventually creates the black coating on the diamonds. The tree responds to the fungus as an infection. As a way for the whole tree to survive, part of the tree dies to isolate or encapsulate the infection – thus, forming the start of a diamond, that grows each year with annual rings expanding outward. As the edge of the diamond continues to die (and if you would allow me to say, as the tree continues to sacrifice part of itself for its own survival), the tree increases its protection by growing a larger diamond.
As you may or may not know, every tree has ‘Heartwood’ and ‘Summerwood’. The ‘Summerwood’ is the outer living part of the tree (under the bark) that has a system of tubules which carry food and water from the ground to the leaves. Every year, even as a healthy (non-infected) tree grows, part of the ‘Summerwood’ dies to become ‘Heartwood’ in the center or core of the tree. The ‘Heartwood’ provides strength to the tree, kind of like steel rebar in concrete. The ‘Summerwood’ -- in addition to being a conduit of nourishment for the tree -- also provides flexibility. So as the wind blows; the tree gives, flexes, and sways, and as a result doesn’t break – but stands strong, firm, and proud in the ground, due to the strength and rigidity of the dead ‘Heartwood’.
The color of living ‘Summerwood’ is a light, cream color; while the color of dead ‘Heartwood’ is a darker, chestnut color. Since the diamonds are dead like ‘Heartwood’, the diamonds are chestnut color underneath – coated with the black fungus pigment on their surface.
The wood from these little willow trees is very hard, dense, light, and strong – unlike what we normally think of as a willow tree being, like their cousin the big beautiful ‘Weeping Willow’, which is quite soft and pithy, compared to the small shrub willows that make diamonds.
Canes and walking sticks are popular items made from ‘Black Diamond Willow’ branches. But also, remember that these shrub willow trees tend to grow next to swamps, wetlands, rivers, streams, or lakes; and are somewhat water- and rot-resistant. As a result, in the past (before steel and green-treated wood posts were invented), farmers used to cut these willow branches for fence posts that they would place in their fields that bordered wet, swampy areas.
Also, pirates, soldiers, warriors, careless magicians and acrobats, and even other more harmless and ordinary people who had lost a leg or two, for whatever unfortunate reason; would cut a branch from the shrub willow tree to make an artificial peg leg, which was light and strong. The lowly prosthesis, with its natural diamonds, had beautiful personality and charm and would soon become the center of attention and instigated many delightful conversations with people that they otherwise would never have met along their limpy way.
Cutting Tips: I always cut my ‘Black Diamond Willow’ branches in the winter for three reasons:
1) There are no bugs.
2) I can walk over the swamp without sinking.
3) The wood is dormant and dry, so is less likely to crack later.
To learn more about these trees, Google ‘Black Diamond Willow’.