Monday, October 01, 2007

labelled


This was the inside of our bathroom cabinet as I found it on Friday morning. I'm not sure why I felt it deserved a photo (could be the lack of sleep), but it seemed interesting that not a single label or brand could be seen, despite the rows of bottles and containers stacked inside. Is that the normal state of the cabinet and I've never noticed it before? Don't know, but I do know that I don't have any trouble identifying the cleansers from the moisturizes without referring to the label itself.


And that's the case with my favorite community garden, as well. Among the stepping stones, one of the garders has planted glass bottles upside down so that only the bases are visible.


The resulting patterns make a lovely backdrop for the plants and flowers that surround the walkways (or is it the walkways that circle the flowerbeds? In this case, I'm not sure which takes precedence.), and they stand on their own as a decorative element as well.


I'm intrigued with these glass stepping stones because although I can identify the former contents quite easily (beer and liquor fifths, mostly), the bottles have nearly lost their identity with their new habitat and have become luminous and shining jewels in the ground. I'm fascinated by the various shapes and colors, and by the way they've been arranged to form patterns and places in which to pause among the greenery.


And, come to think of it, they're rather green themselves, aren't they? I like the aesthetics of this recycling style.




Miss S and I have been stopping in to see the bottle garden more frequently lately (I'll tell you why later), and we always make a point of visiting the goldfish pond near the center of the garden during our visits, as well. (I'd call them Koi, but I think Koi are usually larger, aren't they?)


Some of the corners and edges of this garden are heavily shaded and have difficulty supporting much plant life, so the gardeners have created little nooks and crannies in those shady spots where tables and chairs nestle for quiet lunches and tete a tetes. Anyone is welcome to visit when the gate is open, but only active participants have a key.



Apparently bottles and plants grown in opposite directions. These ones still have a little ways to go before they've grown themselves into the ground, I guess. Or perhaps one of the gardeners was afraid that they would run out of bottles next year and has planted a few extras, just in case.

12 comments:

  1. That's incredible and beautiful! Thank you for sharing. I can't even imagine how they did that.

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  2. How beautiful those bottles look! Makes me want to try that as well.

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  3. I've never thought of using bottles as glass stepping stones. What a wonderful idea.

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  4. Anonymous1:28 PM

    there is a crazy park nearby where a farmer with too much time on his hands made a gazillion things out of concrete and bottles .. a little house, walls, garden urns, etc. etc. etc. :^)

    these paths look great .. i suppose it's all about using what you have on hand. i don't have very many glass bottles, but now i wish i did!

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  5. Anonymous5:06 PM

    what a lovely spot...

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  6. Anonymous11:28 AM

    Beautiful garden. Love all the little details.

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  7. Makes me want to drink more beer, for sure. And for a good cause. Thanks!

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  8. what a lovely, lovely garden

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  9. HI. I had to de-lurk to post a comment on the glass bottles. About 30 years ago when I was young my grandfather "tiled" his entire front yard and a path along the side with beer bottles. He grouted in between to set them in good and they remain like that to this day. He kept spares for an occasional broken one. People knew the house by the bottles and thought my grandfather was crazy or a drunk(a little of both). The only drawback is the rain. I must have slipped a thousand times. Anyway, I enjoyed seeing your photos and I love your blog! Thanks, Matilda

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  10. Anonymous9:47 AM

    What a beautiful way to decorate the community garden!

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  11. that is really beautiful!

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  12. Oh what a great idea! I'm going to tuck that away for my future garden :)

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