Between Naps on the Porch: Jan's Beautiful Bottle Tree

Jul 26, 2011

Jan's Beautiful Bottle Tree

A while back I shared some images of a bottle tree I had purchased at the Ballard Designs store in Atlanta. It was on sale, marked down from $349 to $60.

I've gradually been adding a few bottles to it, including the glass float ball you see on the top. It's still a bit naked...a work in progress. :)

While in Savannah on vacation a couple of months back, I told my friend, Jan, all about my recent foray into the bottle tree world. That somehow sounds a little weird doesn't it...maybe I should rephrase that. lol

Jan is an avid gardener and has a gorgeous garden. She decided right on the spot to add a bottle tree to her landscape, too. We called Ballard Designs while sitting inside The Breakfast Club on Tybee Island and Jan bought her bottle tree right over the phone.

Upon returning home Jan got right to work. In no time she had turned her bottle tree into a beautiful piece of garden art. This is what my tree will look like when it grows up. ;)

Isn't it wonderful?!!!

You can read more about bottle trees and see the tree that started my bottle tree fever in this post HERE.

The photos of Jan's tree were taken by our friend, Maryellen. If you're planning a trip to Sicily anytime soon, Maryellen has a wonderful blog, Sicilian Odyssey, detailing her 5 year adventure there and all the must see spots.

Labels: bottle trees, Gardening

30 Comments:

At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Richard Cottrell said...: I had one when I had my cottage. I found myself buying wine because of the color of the bottle. I think they are fun, especially in the garden, I know you can hardly wait while it grows up. Thanks for sharing. RC and S at My Old Historic House
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Barbara F. said...: That is so cool and a very unique element to a yard or porch. Would it withstand strong winds, or would it have to be moved? xo,
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Barbara...so far, so good. :)
It's pretty heavy (even without bottles) so I think it would take something pretty catastrophic to turn it over.
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Southerncook said...: I have recently given thought to a bottle tree in my own garden. The nursery that I most often frequent have several and I am very tempted especially after reading your post. Such an interesting conversation piece in the garden.

Here is just a little something I read recently about their origin but I did go back and take a look at your original post.

"Slaves from the Congo in Africa brought the idea of the traditional bottle trees -- live trees with colored bottles on the ends of branches -- into this country. Bottle trees protected the homes from evil spirits by trapping spirits inside the bottles, where they could do no harm".

I think I need to make yet another trip to the nursery.

Carolyn/A Sooutherners Notebook
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Ann On and On... said...: Perhaps...it's another reason to enjoy a beautiful bottle of wine. :)

**I was wondering if you could help me find your post on Laguiole knives.
amerskine at hotmail dot com
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Suz said...: This a pretty and unique outdoor decoration.
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Sue said...: I've never seen one of these! I'm a bit stunned at all of the beautiful colors of the bottles. How cool are these!
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: ann, here's the post. Someone emailed me later and said the knives from Marshalls aren't the "real" Laguiole knives. I still loved them, though. :) http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2009/04/christmas-shopping-in-april.html
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Unknown said...: Had not seen one before, but I love what you two gals are doing.
Have a lovely week ~
TTFN ~
Marydon
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Susan McClaskey said...: We have an informal bottle tree in our garden at Buttermilk Cottage. It's made of of blue bottles on decorative stakes (repurposed slats from a baby crib). Perfect for a cottage garden!
Best,
Susan
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Tardevil said...: Just wondering if you could hang glass insulators from the top row for added color, or would they fall?
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Nayana said...: never saw it before, how cool is this. stunning.
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , JoyceG said...: I bought a bottle tree that's more vertical from Gardener's Supply (no affiliation). It's basically rebar with about a dozen spokes out of it and I love it. I also found some inexpensive ($5) colored glass bottles at Marshalls to supplement my wine bottles. The bottle tree really adds much welcome color to my garden here in the Pacific Northwest!
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Mary said...: You got me hooked on wine =) I mean wine BOTTLES and I bought myself a very small bottle tree at the Virginia Beach Home and Garden Show back in the spring. I will have to send you a picture. Mine looks like a baby tree compaired to your tree and Jan's but I am enjoying it very much. Thank you for the idea!
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , FABBY'S LIVING said...: This is so pretty and very unusual. I would love this idea come Xmas, with green and red bottles!! Love, FABBY
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , FABBY'S LIVING said...: Oh, oh!, I forgot, with lights inside the bottles...they will look terrific at night, like a tree, around a snowed garden! Hugs,
FABBY
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Fabby, that would be beautiful!
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Penny, I love the idea of the insulators!
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , foreverdecorating said...: biggest one that I have ever seen. You really go a steal of a deal on it too.
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , bammajan10 said...: Funny that this is today's post...since I signed on to tell you about a book I'm reading.
Karen White writes wonderful books set in the south and On Folly Beach has a character who makes and sells bottle trees! I immediately thought of you, Susan.
Give this author a try, you'll like her.
Jan
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , bammajan10 said...: oops, forgot to say - I wonder how a clear bottle would look with some paint swirled around inside? A couple of different colors just dripped in twirled around could be interesting.
Jan (who wants a bottle tree, but lives in the Windy City)
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Jan, I wonder if the author had Stephanie Dwyer in mind. She's a bottle tree maker in MS...google her name...I think she has a website.
These bottle trees are pretty heavy...maybe the bottles would hold up in the wind. :)
Love the paint swirl idea! :)
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Vicki said...: Very pretty...yours is coming along very nicely! - Vicki
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Hollace said...: I never heard of these until your first post a while back when you happily acquired your tree. I am impressed with Jan's progress.
What I am wondering is: where do all the colored bottles come from? Here, in Oregon, it seems that all our wine bottles are olive green or brown with a very few blue (Bridgeport). Jan's has purple and red and all different hues, and even more, has bottles with pretty patterns in the glass. Where/what do those come from? [I read your linked sites and saw the picture of the pathetic "Portland, Oregon" tree: two clear salad oil bottles and one brown. That's what I'm talkin' about!]
Is there any stigma attached to the bottle tree's success, like 'the biggest drinker has the best tree'? In my student days, beer cans were stacked in dorm windows as some sort of trophy...I wouldn't want that look...
I do have a box of colored glass insulators in my basement; I saw a picture using those as a tree...
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Tea & Chocolate Guy said...: This is spectacular .. can't wait to see as your's evolves and grows too!! I want to add a bottle tree to our garden too!!! xo HHL
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Hollace, I started collecting mine a year before I found the tree, so I already had almost all the ones that are on my tree. A lot of drinks come in pretty bottles. I found some sparkling water at Trader Joes in really pretty green bottles.
Jan has been collecting them for a while, a few were gifts and she bought several on Etsy and at Pier 1. Just check on Etsy and you can find them. One of the one's on my bottle tree came from Hobby Lobby...they have a great bottle selection. Also, check recycling places...that's a tip a reader shared with me on a previous post.
At Tuesday, July 26, 2011 , Unknown said...: You got an awesome deal on that bottle dryer. My neighbor looked for one for months and finally got one for, I want to say, about $125. Keep drinking wine to fill it up! :)
At Wednesday, July 27, 2011 , "Blossom" said...: Susan,
My husband and I own a sheet metal company and I showed him your bottle tree. He maded the bottle tree and just sent it out to have it powered coated! I will send you a photo in a couple of weeks when I get it back. It looks awesome.
At Wednesday, July 27, 2011 , Hollace said...: Thanks for your speedy answer! My eyes will be opened to bottles now and I may have to stop myself from dumpster diving!
I enjoy your blog very much, don't know how you can keep 'em coming so fast.
At Saturday, August 27, 2011 , T.MAGLARES said...: I LOVE THE IDEA OF THE BOTTLE TREE. HOW UNIQUE. GREAT CONVERSATIONAL PIECE FOR ANY YARD OR PATIO. GLAD I CAME ACROSS THIS SUBJECT. WOULD LOVE TO TRY IT.
:-)

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Jul 26, 2011

Jan's Beautiful Bottle Tree

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