pretty crafty: bottle tree

My husband’s fond memories of his youth in South Carolina include the colorful bottle trees that are part of the Gullah culture of Daufuskie Island. Originally intended as a way to capture evil spirits before they could enter a home, bottle trees have since evolved into creations that can add a bit of color and whimsy to any garden. Though the original versions were made from actual trees, you can make a simple yet gorgeous bottle tree for your own garden this spring using a post and rebar — like the beauty above featured at Digging. (If you’re not feeling so handy, readymade versions are also out there.) –Mary T.



















March 3rd, 2008 at 8:18 am
You can see a beautiful example of a bottle-tree-filled yard (and I mean FILLED) in the movie “Because of Winn-Dixie.”
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:11 am
I saw one of these in a yard down in the Seattle neighborhood of Georgetown. I had NO idea there was a cultural significance to them….
June 25th, 2009 at 5:01 am
[...] like plants in containers; I just hate watering them. But instead of spending money on an AT. –Mary [...]