Bottle Tree Garden

For years, I've wanted a bottle tree. They are prevalent in the southern United States and I've been fascinated by the story that accompanies this garden sculpture.

According to ancient African myth, bottles on trees could catch evil spirits and prevent them from entering a home. In the 18th century, Africans who came to the South as slaves adorned cedar trees with bottles for protection. Blue bottles were preferred as they signified healing powers.

There are lots of examples of bottle trees ranging from using your dead Christmas tree to structures made from metal, to those that use a 2x4 with dowel rods coming out the sides. We wanted something different. All last summer, at flea markets and garage sales, we searched for hay forks and blue bottles.

Here's our newest garden addition.

We love it! I think we're going to plant blue Morning Glories around the base and add a bit more blue to our unique garden structure. It survived 45 mph wind gusts on Sunday and the tinkling sound that the bottles made was just an added bonus. Looking out the front window in the evening, the sun sparkles through the blue and seems to dance in the light.

I don't know too much about catching evil spirits, but I do know that our new tree has it's own brand of magic. . .it's becoming something of a conversation piece when we're out front or just sitting on the porch.

Anything that can get strangers talking can't be a bad thing, huh?