I really like the Collections bottle tree stand because of the shape. But its kind of flimsy and needs small bottles at the top. I think it will be fine "planted" tho. And can't beat the price on it. LOL. I still plan to make a blue bottle BUSH tho. I have some tall, slim bottles that wouldn't go on this tree. And I loved the shape of the ones I used on it. I was so lucky someone donated a bunch of them to GW one time, and it was half off day thank goodness. Plus I was lucky to find 3 little ones with the same shape. I've decided to move my 3 other cobalt totems to that center area and have it the "Cobalt Garden". Also the others are in my gnome garden right now and don't look right with the Teapot Garden going on there. sped, lots of people mistake whippets for greyhounds. They look almost identical except for the size. Whippets are about half as big. Feather is 20" at the shoulders and weighs 25 lbs, normal for a female. Males a little bigger. Here's a shot of how the old lady usually is...LOL

Digger, I had to chuckle when I read your message. That sounds so like conversations with my engineer hubby when we approach a new project. I just went out and looked a one of my bottle trees. The "nails" are at 45 degree angles to the post and there are four in each row equally spaced around the post. The offset rows are 4 inches below the row above it. Allows you to use lots of bottles and looks better with the smaller (beer) bottles. Good luck with your project. If you don't have a lot of bottles only add nails to the top third of the post it will look like a bouquet. If you add nails to more of the post it will look more like a tree with branches. Hope that makes sense.

(Off topic a bit) Label writing--my two cents For years I have used labels that somehow were too slick for a #2 pencil to write on with dark lettering. So, I switched to #1 pencils, which I have been using for years. Contrary to others' experiences, they rarely smudge and the writing is dark, lasting on the labels until the labels get brittle and snap. In my last purchase, from the same company (Macore) I found the labels now accept #2's very nicely, so am using either pencils. To erase labels quickly and easily: You can scrub them in the sink with an abrasive pad. Or you can wet the label with water or saliva and use a regular eraser. Wetting the label makes erasing much faster and easier. (try it, you'll see for yourself). Be wary of reusing labels. It is better to replace with new labels so that you don't have your old labels breaking all the time. Sharpie pens fade very quickly if in sun. Sometime they wash off with insecticidal soap. But, pilot brand indelible markers will not fade and thus be problematic--for the most part. I think they can have their problems too. Pilot fine point markers are hard to find--sometimes only available at artist supply stores. But even with Pilot markers, I still prefer the plain old pencil. However, if you exclusively use markers, such as Pilot or Sharpie, and reuse your labels, you can gather up a pile of old labels and soak them in a jar of bleach and water. In a few weeks all the labels will be clean again. I do this with double tags after plant sales. When soaking a jar full of labels, put the container out of light, as that degrades the bleach. RAther than always scrounging for labels, I prefer to just buy a large amount and always have plenty on hand. Many companies sell labels in boxes of 1000, which isn't such a huge number as you might think (where do they all go??). My current preference is the 4" stick label--about 1.3 cents each, MOL. I am not enthusiastic for home made labels made from mini-blinds, bleach jugs, reused nursery labels, masking tape on the pots, etc. Jon (see, I can jabber on, on any subject)

Can not imagine 'dopeheads' being anywhere but here. The fire had to put a lot of shock through your nervous system, seeing what you were losing and not knowing where or when it would stop. Traumatic. Dopers stripe their own home of copper and live in darkness. We have thought about a small community garden to get them slowly involved - nothing yet. Life is full of sour happenings it seems, that can become very polarizing. Gardening is great therapy for me - mentally and physically. I am aware that I shut down at times because so much needs to be done now (or what can be put off). This happens more often than I want. Oh, "blue bottles" are suppose to capture the worst spirits my sis said. I am going for all blue now, because of living here. It would not surprise me to awake tomorrow and the tree be totally stripped. I got radishes yesterday and the Dahlias keep coming up. I quit counting. Time to pot up some more rooted cutting this coming week. ........life in the fast lane.