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This week's PhotoHunt theme is "Protect(ion)."
This is a bottle tree. An old African folkloric tradition - put a bottle tree in your yard to protect your home and family from bad spirits who will be attracted to the shiny colors and get trapped inside the bottles.
You can find more Photo Hunters and join the hunt here.
Thanks for visiting and have a nice weekend.
This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on April 24, 2009 9:07 AM.
The previous post in this blog was Happy Earth Day !.
The next post in this blog is Sunday Salads #1: Eden's Blood Orange Salad.
Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.
Comments (34)
I took a photograph of a bottle tree at the NC Botanical gardens in Chapel Hill but didn't realize what they were for. I like your shot and also appreciate learning the history of them.
Posted by Carver | April 24, 2009 11:27 AM
Posted on April 24, 2009 11:27
Coolio! I did not know that before :) Great pics!
Posted by Sue | April 24, 2009 11:50 AM
Posted on April 24, 2009 11:50
I had heard of the bottle tree and have seen many on Gardenweb... but don't know if I had heard the reason for them... most of the ones I see all have blue bottles... but I do love the one you have shown... all colors and types of bottles...
Love this post!!
Posted by ann | April 24, 2009 1:09 PM
Posted on April 24, 2009 13:09
Wow, that is an interesting folk lore; what a way to interpret the theme. Happy weekend.
Posted by Photo Cache | April 24, 2009 1:36 PM
Posted on April 24, 2009 13:36
Beautiful photos! And great take on the theme!I am still having hard time with this one.
Posted by candi | April 24, 2009 3:11 PM
Posted on April 24, 2009 15:11
What a pretty tree!
Posted by liz | April 24, 2009 4:28 PM
Posted on April 24, 2009 16:28
Wonderful! I've never heard of this before. Great take on the theme!
Posted by jams O'Donnell | April 24, 2009 5:13 PM
Posted on April 24, 2009 17:13
This is such a cool idea! I'd make one except I'd be afraid local teenagers might like smashing the bottles on the street. Hmmm. Maybe the backyard!
Posted by East Gwillimbury WOW! | April 24, 2009 5:30 PM
Posted on April 24, 2009 17:30
Wow - I didn't know that - great pictures! :)
Posted by Leslie | April 24, 2009 6:25 PM
Posted on April 24, 2009 18:25
What an interesting belief and beautiful de facto sculptural work that results from it! :)
Posted by YTSL | April 24, 2009 10:05 PM
Posted on April 24, 2009 22:05
WOW!! I learned something new today-thank you!! Excellent shot btw:)
Stop by to see my "protection" shots!
http://upcountrysmiles.com
Posted by Cindy O | April 24, 2009 10:15 PM
Posted on April 24, 2009 22:15
Wow,what a unique entry! The bottle tree sure looks cool.
I think we both have something in common with my post :)
Posted by Julie | April 24, 2009 10:16 PM
Posted on April 24, 2009 22:16
That is interesting to know. Cool entry for the theme. Mine is up too.cc
Posted by gengen | April 24, 2009 11:28 PM
Posted on April 24, 2009 23:28
interesting...
Posted by jong | April 25, 2009 7:46 AM
Posted on April 25, 2009 07:46
Good stuff. To protect your home and family from bad spirits is certainly important, but who drinks the spirits that were in these bottles initially?
Have a great weekend!
Posted by SnoopyTheGoon | April 25, 2009 8:05 AM
Posted on April 25, 2009 08:05
this is v intriguing!
Posted by saint3 | April 25, 2009 8:46 AM
Posted on April 25, 2009 08:46
Wow, Annie. That is really interesting and I love your photo. Maybe I could create a small one in my small back yard! It would certainly be a conversation piece!
Posted by sheri | April 25, 2009 10:07 AM
Posted on April 25, 2009 10:07
Hi Annie, what a unique take on this week's theme! It was really interesting learning about the folklore tradition. It's cool how they used different shapes and colors.
Great photos Annie! Have a great weekend!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | April 25, 2009 10:22 AM
Posted on April 25, 2009 10:22
this is soooo cool!
I love the look of colored glass, I don't have them in trees..but all over the house.
Posted by KarenSue | April 25, 2009 11:49 AM
Posted on April 25, 2009 11:49
beautiful artwork
beautiful photo
I especially loved reading the meaning behind both
I’m feeling safe here’s my photo hunt
Posted by kaye | April 25, 2009 12:05 PM
Posted on April 25, 2009 12:05
Very creative and cool - love it!
Posted by Randi | April 25, 2009 1:51 PM
Posted on April 25, 2009 13:51
Never heard of a bottle tree before. Interesting! I’d love to have one but I would probably get a letter from the HOA. Love the colors, the different shapes and what a gorgeous day it was.
Posted by María I. | April 25, 2009 2:26 PM
Posted on April 25, 2009 14:26
That's a very attractive bottle tree. I imagine they don't all look quite so good, but so long as they serve the protection purpose.
Posted by A. | April 25, 2009 2:36 PM
Posted on April 25, 2009 14:36
I have never heard that before!! Those are beautiful bottles. Great pics. Thanks for stopping by my photo hunt.
Posted by Flo | April 25, 2009 3:22 PM
Posted on April 25, 2009 15:22
This is so cool - is this in your backyard?
Posted by Jerry | April 25, 2009 5:01 PM
Posted on April 25, 2009 17:01
I LOVE the bottle tree! Thank you for sharing your photos and the background behind it.
Posted by nancyhol | April 25, 2009 5:21 PM
Posted on April 25, 2009 17:21
Very interesting! I've never heard about it before.
Posted by Blur Mommy | April 25, 2009 10:01 PM
Posted on April 25, 2009 22:01
I've never seen a bottle tree before but they look so colorful and they make a great photo.
Stop by my photo hunt if you get a chance.
Posted by JyLnC | April 25, 2009 10:56 PM
Posted on April 25, 2009 22:56
This is new to me also. Beautiful bottles and wonderful photos! Where did you find these?
Posted by girasoli | April 26, 2009 4:43 AM
Posted on April 26, 2009 04:43
Thanks for your comments everyone!
Jerry and Girasoli, this one isn't in my backyard - I saw this one at a folk art show. Sometimes I see them in people's gardens here in NC and they really look cool so I'm thinking about getting one myself!
Posted by Annie | April 26, 2009 12:58 PM
Posted on April 26, 2009 12:58
How interesting. I'd never heard of a bottle tree. Cool photos.
Posted by Patrica (Pollywog Creek) | April 26, 2009 2:29 PM
Posted on April 26, 2009 14:29
Nice take! Thanks for sharing with us the knowledge on African tradition, appreciate that!
Posted by jam | April 26, 2009 10:36 PM
Posted on April 26, 2009 22:36
Thanks for the history. I would like to make one bottle tree for my garden. :)
Posted by eastcoastlife | April 27, 2009 2:29 AM
Posted on April 27, 2009 02:29
Great take on the theme - love the bottle tree! menehune
Posted by menehune | April 27, 2009 1:37 PM
Posted on April 27, 2009 13:37