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 BOTTLE
TREE IN THE GARDEN
By Charlene Thornhill
Most gardeners like to incorporate some colorful objects and fun loving
expressions of concrete in their gardens with garden art.
Some of the objects we enjoy most in our garden are the hanging sculptures
designed by George Carruth. Each one of his pieces has a happy look. If you are
looking for a gift for someone who loves nature, gardens and gardening,
sculptures or original art, the Carruth collections specializes in original
garden accents and home accessories that are truly works of art. The unique
creations are carved from limestone and clay.
The Carruth Studios original creations are all inspired by nature, all
affordably priced and the best thing, they are from Waterville,
Ohio.
In Kim Cromwell’s garden, her favorite garden art is her Bottle Tree she made
before her gardens were open to the public in 2002. The Ladybug Garden Club held
an open garden tour and Kim knew she wanted something different and unique for
one area of her garden.
She had made a new 60 x 15 foot flower bed which resulted in her gardens
being judged by The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, Inc. for Region 3 Amateur
Gardener. She wanted to add something special in the way of garden art and soon
found something she could make herself.
Kim saw a picture in a magazine and knew she wanted to try to make a bottle
tree for the garden. She used a 4 x 4 inch pressure treated post (8 foot) and
secured it down in the ground about 18 inches. With the help of her father, she
drilled slanted holes about 2 inches deep every 6 to 8 inches. She used 3/8 inch
dowel rods cut to 8 inches in length. With wood glue, the dowel rods were
secured into the posts, alternating levels on opposite sides of the post.
The last dowel is about 2 feet from the ground so there is still room to work
around in the garden.
Kim says, “Some bottles have significance as they were obtained from my
grandparents, Frank and Louise Sheffer, prior to their moving to the Brethren
Retirement Community. They had the older bottles with great shapes – the kind
companies no longer make. Kim found some restaurants will give you an empty
washed-out bottle if you tell them the reason for wanting it.”
All of her bottles have weathered well. The colors are what make the tree
interesting. Kim uses amber, green, brown, blue, clear, pink and yellow bottles.
She puts the bottles out on the tree in mid May, after the last frost, and
takes them down when cleaning the garden in the fall.
The nice thing about the “tree” is the bottles can be moved around at random
anytime. “You could have a different look each week or every month”, says Kim.
She is always on the lookout for unique bottles, not only the color but the
shapes, as well for replacements or additions.
She suggests using inexpensive or “free” bottles since you don’t know how the
weather will affect the bottles.
It has been a fun project for Kim - something she can say she made herself
and something you won’t find in everyone’s garden.
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