Real Estate Blog - What is that in the Tree?!

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What is that in the Tree?!

I went to St George, Utah last week and on my way back to Salt Lake City I passed through the towns of LaVerkin and Toquerville. In between these two towns I saw this tree.

Shoe tree near Toquerville Utah

Can you guess what is in the tree?

Yep they are shoes. Why? I do not know. I hope to find out where this tradition started and get back to you.

Shoe tree near Toquerville Utah

Posted by Julie Kippen Vernal Utah Real Estate on 06/17/2008 11:12 PM

Comments (13)

utah real estate, laverkin, toquerville, shoe tree

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13 Comments on What is that in the Tree?!

JUN

2008

I found this on the internet

http://www.shoesoftheday.com/2007/12/22/who-knew-shoes-grew-on-trees/

Great Picture and post. Without your photo I would have never found it.

This is very cool! In the south we have bottle trees. Bottle trees are exactly what they sound like, trees with colored bottles place over small limbs. They actually have a spiritual significance in southern lore. The colored bottles are supposed to attract malevolent spirits that then get caught inside them and cannot get out. This prevents the spirits from entering the home!

Virginia that was a neat picture. I didn't know anything about it and I know people that go to Park City often. I will have to tell them to look for it. This tree near Toquerville is out in the middle of nowhere along the highway. We wondered if it was a high school tradition.

Rich Love the bottle tree. I wonder how long they have been doing that. Sounds like it is a very old folk lore. How often have you seen them?

You see them in the rural deep south of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana! I have even seen this bit of folklore imitated in mixed media art pieces in a gallery in Jackson, Mississippi many years ago. I haven't ventured to the rural south in years but I love southern gothic folklore, think Big Fish the movie.

JUN

2008

I didn't know there was such thing as a "shoe" tree??? Just kidding! At least they throw it on trees, I have seen a part of California where they found it "fun" to throw their shoes up on electrical wires.

Tina I guess there are shoe tree, but they are usually in the closet! I have seen a few shoes on electrical wires but not as a statement. Still wondering about these. Maybe some of the Realtors from Southern Utah can enlighten us.?

Tina I was just thinking that my daughter would love to have a shoe tree. It would save her a lot of money and give her a place to store them!

JUN

2008

Julie, what an interesting thought and tree. A shoe tree? Who would have thought? Very cool. ;-)

JUN

2008

I think I've heard of the shoe tree (or shoe trees) but can't quite recall....and did not know that bottle trees were to collect maleovalent spirits!

Teri I was a fun sight and I love to take pictures! I am still trying to get the signature for my blogs. I haven't figured out where to paste the code.

Carol I thought the bottle trees were very interesting. I bet there is a lot of folklore we could learn about from other active rainers!

JUL

2008

Here is an article from the Hurricane Valley Journal, telling how the Shoe Tree in Toquerville got started. http://www.hvjournal.com/articles.php?id=3756

Thank you,Jen. That was an interesting article.

JAN

Julie, This must be a popular thing to do.....but the tree looks so remote to anyplace!

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