Woodworking in general is evocative of the northern lifestyle and it seems most people agree that if there’s one bit of woodwork that really says “North Woods” it’s diamond willow. As soon as you walk in the Chik-Wauk front door, you’re greeted with a forest of diamond willow serving as the guardrail around the “Springtime on the Gunflint” diorama.

The Gunflint Trail is gifted with many artists and craftsmen. In Chik-Wauk Museum you can see the work of two woodworkers who work mainly with diamond willow: Ken Lind and LeRoy Ullrich. Ken stripped all the diamond willow you see in the museum’s exhibits and he’s also the crafter of beautiful diamond willows lamps, some of which are available in the Chik-Wauk gift shop.

Meanwhile LeRoy crafts a wide variety of diamond willows including walking sticks, salt and pepper shakers, and candle holders.

Diamond willow isn’t a specific type of tree. Rather, “diamonding” forms on willow trees which have been affected by a fungus called valsa sordida. This fungus causes diamonding on at least 5 willow species. Here in northern Minnesota, the most common willow species is salix discolor. You might know it as pussy willow. Carvers take branches of this tree, which you’ll find near wet areas, strip off the gray bark, carve out the diamonds, and polish the pieces.

If you’d like a bit of diamond willow to take home with you, the Chik-Wauk Museum Gift Shop is a great place to stop.