Pussywillows

My brother has a magnificent black willow growing at the end of his driveway.  Most of the native willows in the Northwoods are shrubs.  There are also some varieties that grow into medium sized trees w/ multiple trunks - that's the kind that is growing at the end of my driveway.  Not a pretty tree per se - except for this time of year.  It's full of grey fuzzy catkins.  Unfortuneately, when the roofer reset my tipped over fire sign some of the lower limbs of the willow obscure the sign.  I'm not strong enough to pull the sign out nor reset it plus I have no problem w/ where the sign now resides - just need to do a trim job on the little tree.  Did that (will have to revisit in the summer once the leaves emerge) and took the resulting cuttings of pussywillows back home.   Placed them artistically in a vase on the kitchen counter as an homage to spring.  Didn't last long - Dunder and Blitz think catkins make wonderful toys.