Willow branches in early spring, Minnesota
© Jim Brandenburg/Minden Picture
A willowy welcome to spring
With winter officially over, we're weeping for joy right alongside this willow tree, its wispy new boughs signalling a healthy year of growth to come. About 400 species of willow grow across the globe in water-rich, seasonally chilly spots like here in Minnesota. With some willows soaring up to 20 metres tall and wide, cultures around the world have bestowed deep symbolism on the formidable trees, associating them with refuge, wisdom, or plenty—if not with ghosts, demons, or the spirit world. One thing all traditions can agree on: When a willow sprouts bright green wisps like this, it's a welcome symbol of spring's arrival.
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Manicouagan Crater in Québec
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Aerial view of the Grotta della Poesia (Poetry's Cave) near Roca, Lecce, Italy
'The Spirit of Harlem' mural by Louis Delsarte in Harlem, New York City
Mississippi River on the border between Arkansas and Mississippi
Mineral-laden water in the Rio Tinto in Minas de Rio Tinto mining area, Huelva province, Andalusia, Spain
Ocean waves crashing over a heart-shaped rock island off the coast of Sydney, Australia
