Ledgend of the bottle tree

I have been wanting a bottle tree for quite awhile, I remember the first tree I ever saw was when I was a little girl. We would go to Jackson to visit Jim and we traveled Hwy 51, this was before the interstate. When we reached the outskirts of Hazelhurst, there was an old house sitting on the right side of the road, an elderly Black Lady lived there with her Daughter. I

always loved how neat her humble little place was, she would white wash it every year and also do the picket fence. In her yard was a bottle tree covered with blue medicine bottle, It was awesome seeing the bright white and blue in the yard. I remember that tree from the time I was about 8 in 1951 till about 1976. Someone said the old lady passed and when her daughter passed, her Grandson redid the whole place. I sure miss see her little piece of

heaven or that is what I thought it was. For years they where very popular in the south, then the died down...people did away with all the older ideas. Surprising how now the same folks who tried to get rid of all the old country stuff are the ones going to flea markets and thrift shops trying to find it again. Any how the bottle tree is making a come back and I've finally talked DH into letting me get one...P.S...it will be in my yard by summer time, just got to make him think it's his idea...lol..men,

These pictures are from the web...Some more pretty bottle trees can be found here....

A Bit of Background and History of Bottle Trees

The bottle tree reflects an ancient African tradition that can be traced as far back as ninth century Congo where natives hung hand-blown glass on huts and trees to ward off evil. The tradition continued in Africa and eventually became a part of Southern African-American folklore. In the early American South, trees, typically cedar because its branches point toward the heavens, were stripped of foliage and decorated with colorful glass bottles.
According to African legend, the bottles attract evil spirits, which are drawn to the bursts of sunlit color. The spirits then become trapped inside the bottles, their voices heard moaning as the wind passes by. Though the legend that the bottles trap evil spirits is widely accepted, some believe that the bottles hold the spirits of their ancestors, while others contend that the bottle tree grants wishes.

The color blue also signified healing powers.
("The Campus Chronicle", Savannah College of Art and Design)

I have also heard that the bottle tree originated even earlier and father north...you can read about it here...very interesting read.
How many of you have a bottle tree and how do you like it?