Bottle bush

Our own Outagamie Master Gardener Gail Clearwater's "Trash to Treasure" presentation at the Wisconsin Master Gardener Conference was one of the most anxiously awaited sessions with large numbers in attendance. Her presentation included photos of her own creations from her home garden, featured on a number of local garden walks. She also gathered photos of inspirational garden art, sharing ideas where to hunt for "trash" that can be used to create "treasures" to accent our own yards…

The backbone of a garden is based on what is growing there, but that doesn't mean that decorations can't be every bit as important as the living plants! The

This article is about how to make bottle trees using just a few simple items. The history and 'functionality' of these trees are both fascinating. Read on to discover more!

It used to be that you could see bottle trees scattered all over the Southern landscape. Usually in the country or along the bayous of Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennesee, and Alabama, bottle trees are a colorful folk tradition with the purpose of...

Bottle Brush tree (Callistemon), belongs to the Myrtaceae family. Bottlebrush plants and shrubs flower spikes are shaped like a bottlebrush. [LEARN MORE]

We love the folk history of bottle tree sculptures, so have developed several versions to keep the tradition going. If you'd like to read more about origins of this particular type of garden art, we highly recommend reading The American Bottle Tree over at the Smithsonian Gardens blog.

Aptly named, callistemon bottlebrush flowers add a wispy shape, texture and color to your garden. They're happiest in zones 8 to 11.

Spruce up your garden with this blue bottle tree garden bottle art. The blue bottle tree is such a statement and easy to make!

Wine bottle trees are hot in garden decor right now and it’s no wonder why. They are a beautiful way to introduce garden art to any landscape. Bottle trees make a nice focal point, adding vertical color and interest. I especially love the way the colored bottles glimmer in the morning and evening sunlight. They even have a somewhat interesting history.

Clarkesville is a lovely little town in North Georgia. Donna and I spent an afternoon there recently. This bottle tree was on the property of a real log cabin.