Today I am looking at bottle trees.
Bottle Tree
If you live in the southern part of the United States, you know that you can’t throw a stick (Ha!) without hitting a bottle tree. According to Wikipedia a bottle tree is ”An artificial tree made of glass bottles, usually of colored glass. Associated with Hoodoo [folk magic] and primarily found in the Southern United States.”
No one can tell or show you more about bottle trees than Felder Rushing.
Felder Rushing
Felder Rushing is a 10th-generation American gardener whose pioneer ancestors (several lines of which were involved, on one side or the other, with the American revolution), settled across the Southeast, bringing many plants with them. Rushing’s overstuffed, quirky cottage garden has been featured in many TV programs and magazines – including a cover of Southern Living and in the New York Times – and includes a huge variety of weather-hardy plants along with a collection of vernacular folk art. There is no turfgrass, just plants, yard art, and “people places.”
- Felder Rushing bio
Felder has amassed an amazing collection of bottle tree photos and information.
Bottle Tree
Bottle Tree
Bottle Tree
Here are a few creative bottle tree options.
Bottle Trees along a pathway
Bottle Trees
Bottle Tree Topiary
Bottle Tree Arbor
Felder says that most [bottle trees] are festooned with bottles of many colors, but the blue bottles are considered “best.” Blue has LONG been associated with ghosts, spirits, and “haints.”
You don’t have to live in the south to have a bottle tree. Why don’t you add one to your garden this year! A glass bottle tree is a great way to recycle and add color to your yard.
It is Friday!
Looks like this week is in the bottle!
As usual, I’ve ended up with more on my to-do list than I have time to complete. I like being busy. The weekdays fly by and then I slow down and enjoy the weekend. How about you?
I hope you slow down and make plans for a bottle tree this weekend.
I’ll see you back here on Monday.
Patricia
Love it!
Around here, we pay more attention to the bottle than the contents! I have friends that save and trade bottles for their trees. It is considered a true gift to receive a lovely bottle from a friend, share the contents, and then join together to install the bottle on the tree!
Makes me wonder if such trees were used at the time of the Salem witch trials?
Now I’m intrigued and must click on your link to do some reading!
Awesome – appreciate learning about the bottle trees and the link to the historical sources, Patricia!
Pam | OR DESIGN glassworks | ORDESIGN.com