Morning Glory has arrived around the Potting Shed.
By the end of summer, the wild vines and volunteers are rambling and climbing everywhere.
I placed a bottle tree by a patch of Morning Glory that was springing up, giving it a place to climb.
(Read–> if you can’t get rid of it, celebrate it ;)
The Southern tradition of the bottle tree is thought to have arrived with the slave trade from Africa, with the superstition that the bottles would trap and repel evil spirits.
Blue bottles were most often used, thought to lure the evil spirits with their bright color. Once the spirits were lured inside the bottles at night, they were believed to be trapped there, destroyed by sun in the light of day.
Bottle trees have evolved as garden art and you can find them available at garden centers, flea markets, in catalogs and online these days. There are lots of varieties to be had, from hanging bottle trees to planter bottle tree stakes and larger free-standing versions, to brighten up your garden and add interest.
I used a combination of recycled and old bottles, with a couple of blue ones for their sparkling bright color and nod to tradition.
Morning Glory blooms last a day, opening in the morning as the name suggests, with the flowers fading by the afternoon.
An old Southern favorite, a vintage RC Cola bottle, has a place of honor on the bottle tree. . .
And a pair of garden gloves are planted on the bottle tree, as totems, by the Potting Shed.
My Potting Shed was featured in She Sheds: A Room of Your Own, by Erika Kotite, published by Cool Springs Press/Quarto Publishing Group. “She” was honored to be included among the examples of She Sheds in this book! I have three copies I’m giving away in celebration.
To enter to win a copy of She Sheds, leave a comment, HERE.
The winners will be chosen June 23rd.
Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Metamorphosis Monday
Fun fun fun! Love the old bottles and the tree is perfect for the morning glories.
I didn’t know the idea behind the bottle trees. Thanks for sharing.
What a novel way to use the bottle tree and the morning glory. Two for one! Gotta love it.
Neat! I appreciate the history lesson…I never knew bottle trees were believed to lure and trap evil spirits! I certainly need one to protect my dwelling from an evil neighbor. lol! However, my HOA will probably kick on it. Attempting to add a bottle tree to my landscaping may be interesting and worth a try! 😃
Love your comment. Are we neighbors because I have a bad neighbor plus an HOA.
I’ve always wanted a bottle tree and yours is adorable with the unique bottles and garden gloves~ I bet it’s fun to watch the morning glory climb and grow! Such a happy happy garden scene Mary!
Jenna
My morning glories have been climbing and blooming for a month, now…love those happy flowers! Wish I had a bottle tree, and I just might go shopping for one soon. The bottles which you have chosen are each so special…thanks again for sharing…
You are my #1 favorite blogger! I look forward every day to what you share, your amazing creativity, etc. Thank you for all the work and joy you put into sharing with us. Julie W.
Never thought about putting a garden glove on my bottle tree!! Another good idea!! Thank you.. 🦋🌺🌸🌹🌻🍾
I have always liked the bottle trees. Didn’t know the origin tho. Thanks for sharing. So love the idea of trailing the vine through the bottle tree. I think it completes it, actually.
I need to try a morning glory! Love the bottle tree.
I love the morning glories! They are my good morning Flowers’s. They put a smile on my face! Enjoy your week and the heat! 😎🌴
Interesting background on bottle trees. I never saw the interest in them until now. Guess I’ll have to see if it works for me!
Morning glories are one of my favorite childhood flowers. I think the bottle tree is a good idea for the morning glories to climb on.
We plant the Heavenly Blue Morning Glories in honor of my mother-in-law who is now passed. They are SO pretty. Love the bottle tree – what a cute add to your awesome garden!
I love Morning Glories because they remind me of my Granny. I did not know of the bottle tree traditions. Love it :-)
Love your little Morning Glory bottle tree!! I have a taller one in my azalea garden – I’ll have to send you a picture sometime! I think they are so fun and I’ve enjoyed collecting the bottles from different flea markets and thrift stores to add to it!
I had morning glories in my first house MANY years ago. I loved them for yheir BLUE color!!! I should get some again! Love your bottle tree and thanks for the info about them.
I start my day with your blog. If I had a shed, I’d keep all my garden and nature books and all my garden curiosities
I had not heard that about the bottle tree either. Thanks for sharing. We expect a picture later in the summer when the morning glory is going wild.
Fun, fun, fun post, Mary! One can see a lot of bottle trees around town here. It seems to be a favorite little yard art tradition. I like the idea of using it for a climbing vine. Love the Morning Glory blooms with their shades of blue. Do you ever grow sweet peas? Happy gardening!
I love your blog and look so very forward to receiving all the wonderful, inspiring photos that you send out. Your Potting shed has fueled my imagination so many times and sparked full blown shed envy!
If I had a she shed it would be the place I have dreamed of on the occasions that I have let my mind run wild with the “what if” possibilities.
I see a place with window and french doors to let in as much natural light as possible. A sky light in the ceiling would be heavenly, to see the beautiful sky by day; the stars at night, and hear the soft patter of rain drops.
A writers retreat where creativity could flourish, embraced by trees and flowers. A quiet space, surrounded by nature, lending itself to all my creative fancies, painting, crafting, gardening and just quietly enjoying time listening to birds. A special place for me, with a designated snuggle cushion for my Rat terrier, Noelle. Pure bliss.
Well, your morning glories look fabulous running all over that great bottle tree. I love how you say if you can’t get rid of it, celebrate it. I think pretty soon I may have beds AND lawn of wild violets to celebrate (or cry over). They are literally taking over, to the point where last fall I wiped out one side of black-eyed Susans and big sections of evening primrose trying to pull it out. I noticed your glove on the tree right away! That’s a similar way I hang mine to dry after rinsing them out. :) I love catching glimpses of all your plants surrounding the shed, paths and island. You have a lot of containers!
Love the bottled tree. I think the Morning Glory is beautiful, but it sure takes over. Took me three years to get rid of it. I will NEVER get another one.
Your bottle tree is so pretty with all your colored bottles.
Mary
Mary, what a great idea to use the bottle tree as a trellis! You never disappoint for novel ideas; I am still looking for witch shoes at thrift stores thanks to you! I have a bottle tree that I have never put out; now I have another use for it. Thanks so much!
I love the bottle tree and the story behind it, but Oh, my, NO WAY! am I celebrating morning glories. White-blooming glories keep trying to strangle 300 feet of rhododendrons in my yard, year after year. They are stealthy but I’m vigilant.
I love bottle trees and finally got one a couple years ago. I have all blue bottles on mine (since I adore blue) and I had to drink some not-too-good beer to have smaller blue bottles. Its actually pretty hard unless you like sweet Moscata wines. There are some blue-bottled waters that were even less expensive and tasty.
Good luck with keeping away your garden evil spirits!
I love your whimsical bottle tree used as a trellis for the morning glories. Your photography is beautiful. Who has ever seen such vibrant blue blooms?! Thank you for sharing your creativity for so many of us to enjoy and remember things from our past we haven’t recalled in a long time.
I in MN where bottle trees are not very common so I get a lot of comments about mine. Most northerners have never heard of the tradition, so it’s fun to share. I have found some lovely colored bottles at Hobby lobby and Michaels.
What a fun addition to your potting shed yard, Mary! I didn’t know about the tradition and how the bottle trees started until now. I happen to love Morning Glories, but something ate the ones that I planted..boo hoo!
What wine are you drinking to yield the blue bottles???? I’ve looked everywhere for blue ones for my tree with no luck. And I too planted morning glories this year to climb my gate….one day they looked so perky, the next day they had holes all in them and next day they dead 💀 What gets them???
Hi Janey, One of my bottles was from a local NC winery. Check the Italian or German wine section at the grocery or wine store for blue bottles or find some here. Skye Vodka also comes in a blue bottle. Japanese Beetles love feasting on Morning Glory leaves.
I, like many other readers, love morning glories. I have no area where they will grow so love sharing yours. Thank you. MM
~Mary~
Pretty little vine !, My nephew made me a bottle tree just this spring,I put one bottle on it and told him it is starting to grow :)!! the colored bottles are fun to collect !
Thanks for the chance for the super give away Mary !!
Keep cool
Paula
IN
Just bought the book and love it!!!
Morning Glories bring back so many childhood memories for me. My cousins and I loved to pop the buds in the morning when playing in the gardens around my grandparents farm. Love how your morning glories climb up your bottle tree. I named my first pony “Morning Glory” and just loved her. She was a pretty little pinto pony. She was also sweet, if I fell off, which often happened In the beginning, she would stop and wait for me to hop back on. Every afternoon when I got off the school bus she would be waiting for me by the gate. Thanks for your morning glory post today and for taking me back to such wonderful childhood memories.
I have a bottle tree. I never thought about planting Morning Glories to climb up the tree. I always enjoy reading your blog. You have cute ideas & the Potting Shed is absolutely adorable! ☺
I love your bottle tree and now I want one too!! I didn’t know the background history of it before so thank you for sharing it!
That looks like a lovely book. I want to comment on you photography, it is amazingly sharp and crisp, as if seeing it in person!
Beautiful. Loved the story behind bottle trees, and Can’t wait to see the Morning Glories later in the season.
Mary, I have wanted a bottle tree and my hubby thinks I have lost my mind😂😂😂. I love that yours is serving as a trellis for morning glory with its pretty little blue flowers. Your garden glove
Mary, I am sorry…I wanted to say your garden glove is the perfect topper for the tree! Happy Gardening!
The glove on the bottle tree is a witty touch, if you’ll pardon the pun. Love how you embraced the pretty interloping vine.
Your publications inspire me and give me hope for the future….for a time when I am done raising 4 little people and can invest in my OUTSIDE home and surrounding again. Love your eye candy! And thanks for sharing your creativity with the world!! Now, I gotta clean dishes after my 4 littles!!
The bottle tree, the shed, your garden – all amazing.
Love the bottle tree idea. What kind of poles is standing the bottles up?
Hi Barbara, The bottle tree is made of rebar :)
What an interesting bit of folklore and adds color to the garden while recycling as well ….so now I am on the hunt for a bottle tree …cheers to you …
Would love a copy of your book She Sheds. I have wanted a shed for sometime and hopefully someday….Love the bottle tree!
Been wanting a bottle tree for some time. And now have the perfect solution for controlling my morning glory. And love the glove on yours. Thanks for the inspiration.
I’ve never heard of a bottle tree, but it’s so cool! Thanks for your great ideas! “If you can’t get rid of it, celebrate it” sounds like a great mantra for my landscape. But, do you have a creative way to celebrate briars?!?
I lost 2 of my Japanese maples. I cut them back and left long branches to try as a bottle tree.
I have a bottle tree but I have not yet dressed it this year. Your post is providing incentive for me to get out and get her “dressed”. I love your “she” shed and all of her accessories. Thanks for sharing.
What did you use for the base and branch’s.
The bottle tree is made of rebar. You can find them available at garden shops, catalogs, flea markets and on eBay.
I know this is an old post but I wonder if anyone can tell me where the hangers for the bottles can be found ….beautiful ….
Hi Laurel…do you mean hanging bottle trees? Just do a Google search, they’re available from garden catalogs and most likely Amazon.