UT Agriculture summer celebration displays thousands of wine bottles
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WEST JACKSON — This year’s Summer Celebration at University of Tennessee Gardens is more than just flowers, shrubs and crops. Old, empty glass bottles may seem like trash to you, but thousands of them are being recycled into colorful pieces of garden treasures at the West Tennessee Agriculture Research and Education Center in Jackson. “We have about 4,000 bottles that are gonna be incorporated through the gardens this year and it looks amazing.”Ginger Rowsey said, Communications Specialist, UT Agriculture Research and Education Center. Colorful shades of blues, greens, golds and reds line the magnificent gardens at the research and education facility.Thousands of once discarded wine and beer bottles are bringing new life along with valued tradition. “Well our theme this year is recognizing Southern Spirit. It’s a little bit of a play on words because as you notice we have bottle tree, bottle art spread out throughout our display gardens.” Rowsey said. The bottles are part of a tradition that dates back to ancient times. “The tradition of placing a bottle tree outside your door goes back maybe 3500 B.C. the thought was so the bottles could capture evil spirits and then protect you.” Rowsey said. Many of the bottles were donated from staff members and the community. The goal was to get people to transform everyday stuff into something better. “Our themes tend to revolve around things that are recycled. Found objects that don’t cost a lot of money. So I hope people take away that they can use objects in there own home and garden that are very affordable as garden art ornaments; and that are attractive in the garden.” Jason Reeves, Curator and Research Horticulturist at the West Tennessee Ag Research Center. For more information on the history of the bottles and the Summer Celebration, visit this website http://west.tennessee.edu/events/SummerCeleb.asp
