Wicker picnic baskets are a lovely, traditional way to pack a breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a well-earned snack. You can take it with you anywhere -- to your backyard garden, your neighborhood park, or as a special luxury treat, on a camping trip. They make for a great gift for a friend, family member, loved one, or new neighbor.

Wicker is a type of natural straw popularly used to make not only picnic baskets but chairs, tables, folding walls, and more. Wicker is made out of any flexible branch or twig, but it is most commonly made out of willow branches. The wicker straws or branches are woven or laced together to create a tight weave that is light but solid, simple but elegant.

Wicker picnic baskets usually have a handle for easy carrying, or two handles if the basket is made to serve more than two picnickers. Wicker picnic baskets can be neatly packed with plates, bowls, glasses, mugs, silverware, and a variety of extras. For example, one luxury wicker picnic basket is made for six picnickers and includes: six porcelain china plates, six fine bone china mugs, six water glasses, six each of knives, forks, and spoons, six cotton napkins, an insulated thermos for coffee, tea, hot cider or other hot beverage, a willow tray for glasses, and a waiter-style corkscrew. The handles on the basket are black, and the whole unit comes with a five-year workmanship warranty. Yes, wicker picnic basket manufacturers and distributors take their work that seriously.

Another picnic basket will be necessary in order to carry the actual food and beverages. Try bringing sandwiches, hors doeuvres, fruit, meats, water, and a bottle of wine. Now you can have a lovely meal out under your favorite tree, by a flowing stream, or in front of the sunset. Its better than a microwave dinner in front of a TV set, by a long shot!