Can you all stand any more pictures of bottle trees? I hope so because here is my newest one. When I changed some bottles on the backyard bottle tree I had a bunch of green beer bottles leftover. These bottles are such a pretty color (green) and were a 'gift' from a former cherished neighbor. I thought I'd find another spot for them in the garden. They are all the same so this bottle tree is a change from my eclectic backyard bottle tree.
Enter the Front Foundation Garden. Yup, right there for all to see. The house on the post is a custom made Amish handcrafted log cabin that I fell in love with and purchased from-of all places-a flea market. Boy do I know all the good flea markets.
The crepe myrtle trunks you see in the background is 'Biloxi', a wonderful, vigorous, cultivar for me. You might be able to enlarge this photo and see the super good variegation on the bark. This tree was planted as a twig five years ago.
This area was an awkward corner of my front porch and foundation bed but has been fun to design. In front of the Byer's is Euonymous japonica 'Microphylla' and 'Firepower' nandina for interest and color. You cannot beat the euonymous. I find this one looks just like boxwood, but is much shorter and stouter and easier. Very little pruning is required to keep it below the windows shown on the house. The trusty bowling balls are hiding in the background.
I added white LED lights to the inside of the bottles and house so that it would literally 'shine' at night. After all, that is when most rednecks do their beer drinking isn't it? You have a great weekend and remember, drink responsibly if you must drink. :)
in the garden....
Good morning Tina,
ReplyDeleteI am liking the bottle trees more and more. I am more of a blue person, so using the blue wine bottles appeals to me. Euonymous is so prone to euonymous scale in our area, I had to cut out one that was over 10 feet tall. The matching one I cut to the ground but because of a gas line I hesistated pulling that stump. So far it is healthy with about 6 feet of new growth...and it is pruning season.
Janet
I LOVE that log cabin Tina and your plant choices from yesterday :)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Hi Tina, this is a more elegant bottle tree with that log cabin. Can log cabin and elegant be in the same sentence? HA I am interested in the lights, that sounds so pretty. And redneck drinking habits, where do you think we are, Tennessee? :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
Love it, love it! Wish I could see it at night! I have only seen blue bottle trees I think--I really like the green!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend Tina!
What a cute idea! I love the lights, nice way to have them all year around.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Everyone,
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Tina. I like this one very much. Maybe due to the log cabin & the lights. I would guess that it is very pretty when lit up.
Have a great day all.
29ยบ at 7:00 a.m.
I would love to see a photograph of the bottle tree lit up at night. Sounds really pretty! Thanks for the ideas!
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteOkay, I have all kinds of "spirits" puns going through my head, but I've had only one cup of coffee. You're spared my wacky humor this morning.
I like the green bottles and the placement. Beer drinking "lit up" rednecks and "lit up" bottles!
Cameron
Hi Tina --the cabin is really nice looking. You know we won't have a bottle tree --heheheh. No where to put one ;) I am happy to announce that YES my lilac bush is covered in buds. I am getting so anxious --I can hardly wait. Looks like another awesome day today! Ciao
ReplyDeleteI love the lights inside the bottles, great idea.
ReplyDeleteI think it is awsom!! An superidea with the bottles!
ReplyDeleteLinda
The LED lights are certainly an interesting addition!
ReplyDeleteNO, Tina that's NOT what we rednecks do with our beer containers :-) We crush them. That's a high-class Southern bottle tree you have there. Bottle beer is expensive and only the well- to- do buy it.
ReplyDeleteIt shore look purty tho.'
It reminds me of an old joke.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the difference between a redneck and a good ol' boy? A redneck throws his empty beer bottles out the truck window into the ditch and a good ol' boy throws them into the back of the truck.
Tina~
ReplyDeleteWhat fun...I'd love to see what how it looks illuminated. My dearest friend built a similar bottle tree in her yard and then placed one of my garden goddesses at the top of it.
Someday I'll build one in my garden.
Karrita
That bottle tree really compliments your front foundation bed Tina! Yes you found a real treasure in that amish log cabin that is a perfect topper for the post! I love flea markets too. :)
ReplyDeleteLooking at that I wonder... Setting a pretty glass bottle on top of a rebar or some kind of garden stake might be pretty. Serving a dual purpose stake and ornament.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
Another bottle tree for the collection! This one is so neat with the cabin on top. What a great find you had with the cabin. I never have such luck at Flea markets. Our markets consist of new (cheaply made) stuff and more a business then flea market. I spotted those bowling balls in the background before you mentioned them. tee hee.. I really should sneak our old balls into the garden. They are doing no good sitting in a bag in the storage closet. Think the Saint would leave me over bowling balls in the garden? lol
ReplyDeleteHi all!
ReplyDeleteJanet, this euounymous-no scale-knock on wood. I love blue too:)
VP, Thanks!
Frances, Ah yes, the Tennessee thingy. Sigh. Will it ever change?
Linda, Green sure makes sense for us garden lovers!
Dawn, Those LED lights are way cool!
Lola, It's warming up. I like it lit up for sure! Looks like stars.
J, Hello and welcome! Love your property in NY. Those aerials are pretty cool. I may just post a pic of the bottle tree at night, but it is really just a bunch of white lights that look like stars, somewhat blurred thru the green bottles. Thanks for the interest and your very nice comment.
Cameron, We are in the LIT UP and DOPED UP capital of Tennessee in my little town I do believe. Not a good thing but pretty common. You can only make humor at times. Thanks for it this morning!
Now Anonymous, You know you could easy find a spot-like on one of those back trees for a bottle tree. I am thinking hubby says no! Like Skeeter's hubby. Oh well. Awesome day today and yesterday while I was inside all day. On my way out for a long walk at Clarksville Base. Love this area. You enjoy your day.
Sarah, Thanks!
Linda, Thanks!
Dave, Admit-really the whole thing is pretty uh 'interesting' huh?:)
Carolyn, Thanks for the support! Yup, it is a whole culture of beer can crushing bottle tossing racing the trucks shooting the shotguns culture we have here in the south.
Les, LOVE IT! We have nothing but rednecks here then judging by the amount of trash on the roads. The convicts just came thru and picked it all up one week ago, and you almost can't tell the difference now. Sigh. I will for sure remember this and hope some more good ole boys come this way instead of rednecks.
Karrita, So easy! A 4x4 and some nails and bottles. Walah! You'll wonder why you waited so long.
Racquel, Thanks! Flea markets are the best for finding good deals and things with character-what I like best. If I come your way-we will definitely have to go flea marketing.
Marnie, I saw this exact thing with the rebar and bottles. Frances visited a place in NC that had a bunch of bottles set up like that and they looked so cool in amongst the flowers. I think he used blue, but any colors will work. I like the shine of the glass. It's easy too!
Skeeter, Sneak a ball in a good spot-like among your buddleias so you can see it from the computer window? Just a speck of color and uniformity-adds surprise. How can he object to just one? Yes, I know he will. Sigh.
Bravo, bravo, Tina! I love the cabin and the idea of lights! BTW, what are the balls for? I mean other than being a deco, just wondering if they're of any other use...
ReplyDeleteHi Chandramouli, These balls are actually bowling balls. They've been in their spot for more than one year now and I don't ever tire of them. I have lots at my garden-I have secret source. Do you bowl? Throw a big ball down a lane at wooden pins? A leisure game here in the US. I love to bowl.
ReplyDeleteGreat find in the cabin, I love it all and bet it really looks great at night. You and Dawn have always known where all the good flea markets are and find the best things.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of adding the lights! I like it's 'uniqueness' and how it adds interest to your garden;) I couldn't have anything like that in my front yard...we have a homeowners association--not sayin' more--I have too many stories to tell:(
ReplyDeleteTina,
ReplyDeleteToo funny...can you take a photo of the tree at night.
What a fun surprise for visitors walking up to your front door at night. Gail
So are there any bottle tree species that still have the bottle labels on them? All the photos I've seen have the labels removed--which seems like a lot of work. Or would that be just too tacky even for a redneck bottle tree?
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen too many of these bottle trees ~ must not hang out with many drinkers??!! I like the green color of the bottles & I bet they are really pretty at night. I too, know where all the good flea markets are and spend way too many hours in them!!! Have a good weekend Tina.
ReplyDeleteMom, The cabin is so sweet. They had it there one month before I purchased it. You see when I first saw it I thought $20 too much. I went back later and he took $15. I was delighted. Glad you like it!
ReplyDeleteJan, Oh yes, my garden is unique if nothing else. No homeowners here or even codes really. Not sure if that is a good thing or not, but not too many neighbors or passerbys can see the house or garden.
Gail-You know it! I warned you:)
James, The labels would interfere with the shining through so I took them all off. And yes-very time consuming!
Kathleen, You must be on the right side of the RR tracks. Yes-gotta love those flea markets-hey we only live once-why not enjoy?
I do like your bottle tree. I'm trying to save bottles myself. I don't drink, so it may take me awhile! Never developed a taste for it. That's good; I don't need the calories. Would you go look at my post today (Friday) and tell me if my bulbs coming up are tulips or hyacinths? A commenter said they aren't tulips, but I could have sworn I planted tulips there last year.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Glad you like the bottle tree Brenda. Looking forward to seeing yours. You should be glad you don't live in redneck country or you could just go on the road and pick up discarded beer bottles. I think your pictures shows hyacinths. I don't think tulips, but time will tell.
ReplyDeleteTina, I have named you in my list of Friendly Bloggers. If you'd rather not further the award that is ok with me, but I do want you to know I thought of you. If you would like to see the post CLICK HERE.
ReplyDeleteThanks Baree'! You are ever so SWEET to think of me. I am honored.
ReplyDeleteI think the first bottle tree I saw was Pam @ Diggings, and I've been smitten and wanting one ever since. Have to figure out the logistics of it, and of course drink a lot of wine that comes in blue bottles (I love the blue bottles, but the wine, not so much.!)
ReplyDeleteI am trying to remember the name of a movie I saw in the 90s that had a bottle tree prominently displayed. And the tree had some special significance. Does anyone know which movie I'm talking about? I just hope I haven't killed too many brain cells, not being able to remember it. Tina, I wish we had a good flea market here. I have never found anything as nice as that cabin.
ReplyDeleteLove the bottle tree. I made a vintage glass insulator tree, and now I want a bottle tree too! I will go with wine bottles. I have seen one with the labels still on. It was on a porch. I think the labels would begin to peel if exposed to the weather. Nandina has to be one of my favorite shrubs!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Lorilee
Jodi, I too love the blue bottles, and the sweet wine in them. My friend Skeeter is saving some for me-so stay tuned. Can't wait to see your bottle tree. They are so easy to make.
ReplyDeleteW2W, Was it Winn Dixie? Someone was just telling me there was a bottle tree in it? I think that was the name. Oh I hope I got it so we can relax your brain:) If I come down there I promise we'll find some good flea markets. There is one I simply ADORE on Hwy 334 in Southern Alabama. We used to go out of way to stop there when we traveled to Alabama. Very fond memories of this several warehouse flea market. It is called HWY 334 Flea market and may be within driving distance to you.
Lorilee, I thought your glass insulator tree MOST creative and artsy. I loved your build up posts to it too. I had no idea! You have so much cool whimsy in your garden that I think you and I would be right at home in each other's gardens. P.S. Still drooling over the wagon wheels on the swingset;)
I love your beer bottle tree! Could that mean I'm a redneck? lol
ReplyDeleteI will have to get my map out and find highway 334.
Did you know Felder Rushing has "finally posted my pretty definitive history of bottle trees"?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.felderrushing.net/BottleTreeImagess.htm
Dot, Could be.....lol Look for that flea market-it is super! We needed a truck for all we bought.
ReplyDeleteTC, Love the pictures! My favorite is the bottle-gourd tree. I feel some inspiration coming on as I already have a gourd tree....look out neighbors! Redneck and otherwise:)
Tina, I believe you're right about the movie. Now I can relax! Speaking of dogs and fleas, I've tried finding something about the flea market you mentioned but no luck so far. I did find a site that lists a lot of them:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.americanfleas.com/alabama
It would be nice to find a flea market that combines fresh, local produce with the usual fare.
Thanks for the link, TC. Interesting info. I've bookmarked the site. You know, I haven't seen one bottle tree in this area, but there is a church on nearly every block. Do you suppose Rushing would find some incompatibility between the two concepts? Maybe I should start a trend. The county just recently became fully "wet," so maybe the bottle tree will become popular too.
ReplyDeleteW2W, I really like that link of the flea markets. I looked for my little 334 one but couldn't find it either. I will try to find the card and post its address on here. I think you are on to something with the churches and bottle trees:) But I say-go for it! One would look lovely by your pool.
ReplyDeleteGreen is good, Tina - your bottle tree is cool!
ReplyDeleteThe Felder Rushing site was fun, too. Craig of Ellis Hollow has a couple on his blog. In Austin I've seen one in Pam/Digging's former garden and more at author Lucinda Hutson's garden.
I sure like the idea but my 1554 Enlightened Dark Ale comes in brown bottles.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Now Annie, what is wrong with a brown bottle tree? The brown bottles on my backyard tree show up the best-along with some stunning blue ones. I will go check out Craig's blog.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the beer bottle tree Tina! The lights are a great idea. It really does look cute, bet it looks really cool at night.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the lights in the bottles....but WHAT would the HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION say??!
ReplyDeleteLOL, I love a person who doesn't care what the neighbors think! Actually, those bottles are quite aesthetically pleasing, Tina, and they provide little perches for the birds wanting to visit your log house.
ReplyDeleteNeat bottle tree! I have one I'll post soon, real piece of art too!
ReplyDeleteThanks Randy, I will be looking for yours.
ReplyDelete