An inviting path through the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis

Remember those bottle trees you used to see in yards all around the South?  They were actually dead trees that creative gardeners decorated by sticking empty colored bottles onto the bare branches.  Gardening author and radio personality Felder Rushing still has a couple in his front yard in Mississippi.  Click here to see what I’m talking about: Felder Rushing

Now, I happen to like those old-timey bottle trees, although some folks turn up their noses at the notion of having a few indigo-colored Milk of Magnesia jars or green ginger ale bottles hanging outside the window.  I’m a native Southerner, and I appreciate color, so those kind of garden accessories work for me.

But for those of you who want a little more class in your glass…let me introduce you, if you haven’t already heard of him, to Dale Chihuly.

Chihuly– he’s known just by his last name–is an extraordinary glass artist.  I wanted to share some pictures of his work that were made a year or so ago at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.  Thanks, Deb, for sending these in!

Mushrooms? Alien flowers? This pale green glasswork is another Chihuly garden adornment.

We’re looking for your pictures, too, of your garden or gardens you’ve visited and admired.  Just send them to me, Lynn Coulter, at inkycreek@gmail.com (this address isn’t a clickable link, but you can copy and paste it into your email message). We’ll post the best photos here.

For now, enjoy Chihuly’s spectacular “Glass in the Garden, ” and plan on visiting the 2009 Southeastern Flower Show for great ideas on using color, ornaments, and accessories in YOUR garden!

Floating onions? No! These are Chihuly glass orbs, floating in the Missouri Botanical Garden's pond.

cheers,

Lynn

www.LynnCoulter.com