Some call bottle trees “poor man’s stained glass.” Some say it’s about voodoo and keeping evil spirits out of the garden. I call them “redneck Chihuly sculptures.”

Whatever. They come with thousands of years of history and lore, and have their lovers and haters. But whether traditional or contemporary versions, from home-made to high-end,  they are found in rural and botanical gardens alike – even in art museums… and every variation of these cheery expressions of joie de vivre is based on a simple concept: glass bottles held aloft in a garden.