Books in sync with nature.
Books in sync with nature.
Pittsburgh, Pa (January 2013) – Move over, pink flamingos and garden gnomes; here come bottle trees and other glass art for our outdoor delight. So says acclaimed garden writer and photographer Felder Rushing, who for over forty years has been stalking glass garden sculptures – from homemade follies and bottle trees to breathtaking Dale Chihuly creations. His newest book, Bottle Trees…and the Whimsical Art of Garden Glass (St. Lynn’s Press, January 2013), celebrates these glittering wonders of folk and fine art. Rushing gives them their shining moment in the sun with 60 full-color photographs, accompanied by historical vignettes, insights, and favorite quotations about the power of being a little different.
“In his garden every man may be his own artist without apology or explanation. Each within his green enclosure is a creator, and no two shall reach the same conclusion…”
– Louise Beebe Wilder
Rushing’s playful photographs, taken across America and Europe, capture the feeling that, at least in the garden, “anything goes” isn’t always a bad thing. Case in point: bottle trees. Originally brought to the American South by African slaves, they were meant to trap bad spirits. Now this folk art form has become popular with artists and gardeners everywhere, along with outdoor glass sculpture – as they combine with sunlight to create true magic.
Bottle Trees…and the Whimsical Art of Garden Glass is the perfect gift for folks who love quirky beauty, and for those brave souls who aren’t afraid to make bold statements in their gardens.
Felder Rushing tends to a cottage garden in Jackson, Mississippi, that has been featured in House & Garden, Southern Living, and the New York Times. He also gardens and spends several months a year in the western Midlands of England. His photographs and irreverent, laid-back approach to gardening have appeared in numerous publications, including National Geographic and the New York Times. Author or co-author of 17 books, he has contributed to almost every major gardening magazine, hosts a popular NPR-affiliate radio program, and delivers over 80 lectures a year. Rushing is a recent past national director of the Garden Writers Association.
Bottle Trees…and the Whimsical Art of Garden Glass
ISBN: 978-0-9832726-9-4
$15.95 US/$17.95 CAN
Hardcover, 128 Pages