Question for basket makers

[JacksonCash]

I live in central/eastern Michigan, anyone know some good basket making materials in the area? I was cleaning up some hydrandeas in the front yard and got thinking they might work, but I was having trouble getting them to split straight.

[Zuma]

Have you considered Hemlock bark baskets?
It's the right time of the year. How about honeysuckle?
White oak less than 8 inch diameter?
Zuma

[chamookman]

I'm wondering about Phragmites - no shortage of that here in Michigan. Bob

[JacksonCash]

Yeah, All the phragmities I can find is way too thin walled for arrows, so maybe baskets. Thanks for the suggestions Zuma, I'm heading up north in a week or so and I'll be one some land I can harvest stuff at, so I'm excited for that.

[Zuma]

Hoping Jeb will chime in. I think he is right in your neighborhood.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Zuma

[bjrogg]

I'm not a basket maker but don't they use split ash strips? Probably a fare amount of work involved. Sure lots of it free for the taking around here.

[Olanigw (Pekane)]

Brown ash, but it's a lot of work to get.
White ash can work, but it's a lot more work to process.
Willow, split oak, cattails.

[JacksonCash]

Cattails I can get- been wanting to try some of the edibles from them anyway.

[stickbender]

     I watched a film a long time ago, and the guy was making a white oak back pack basket.  He would take a small white oak billet, and smack it with another one, and then peel off strips.  He made a really neat back pack.
 
                                    Wayne

[freke]

Betula pubescens or similar