E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Willow Garland.
An emblem of being forsaken. “All round my hat I wear a green willow.” So Shakespeare: “I offered him my company to a willow-tree … . to make him a garland, as being forsaken.” (Much Ado About Nothing, ii. 1.) The very term weeping willow will suffice to account for its emblematical character.
