Let me see if you can guess...

.. what this is. It is made from bamboo. I know we gardeners think of trellises when we see such things.But it is not. IT is actually meant for use for something else. Can you guess?

A bird cage of some sort?

Are they upside down ? They look as if they could be used to carry things to market. ( but you are correct, they could make nice trellises)

Are they to keep birds out of your plants? At first I thought they might be some sort of choche, but then I would not think frost would be an issue where you live, right?

GW,
I can't figure out what a choche is. I forgot to add in the first place that it is not used in my area, but about 80miles from here (and I had never heard about it till now, myself). No more clues!

They are not kept upside down in the picture. They use a similar thing to keep the birds in, esp. by the sellers on roadsides.

Those are really neat looking! I missed the guess. I think Kimberley meant cloche.

is it a TRAP of some kind???

looks like a plant support of somekind. YOu put it over the plant to let it grow up and through it ?

My DH said maybe something to catch fish with?

Dinu, they look very similar to the ones made here at the countryside. The material is not bamboo, but 'mimbre' (same as for baskets) and they are used to dry clothes.

Greetings from Chile,

Ursula

So, Dinu, don't hold us in suspense too long. They are very pretty whatever they are; probably all made by hand.

to pen chickens in, that are for sale?

Whoops, I did mean cloche! http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=cloche&r=67 Definition #2.

So, they're used with the "bell" opening on the top when in use, Dinu? I love your guessing games. :)

What is that Kimberley, like your second type in five years? hehehe

LOL I have a typo on typo!!

This message was edited May 26, 2004 9:26 AM

Ursula, you have said it!
It is locally called "Balanji". Used mostly in areas where there are long wet days due to rain. This is from a place called Coorg which is 3 hours away (about a hundred Km) from Mysore in the Western Ghats. In such cold and wet conditions, washed clothes will take days to lose their moisture. So, this Balanjis will speed up the drying process. The article also said that some people even keep burning charcoal on a little stove at the centre inside to hasten drying.

Want to know something about this unique place called Coorg? http://www.journeymart.com/Dexplorer/AsiaIS/India/Karnataka/kodago/default.asp
http://www.khoj.com/Life_and_Family/Travel/Karnataka/Resorts/Kodagu/
It is the coffee capital of India.

But we gardeners, given a choice, will use these Balanjis for a different thing. Don't we? At least we will be tempted!

does Ursula get a prize? like a grand ole' collection of seeds we could accumulate for her? I'd be more than happy to organize this - she's given us TONS!!!! We can share back, and she can distribute down there, accordingly..... Email me if you want to do this. I think she's great and would love to send her some of OUR stuff that could happen.

They really would be nice for vines...Especially with a little entrance. I can imagine a child loving it inside a vine-covered balanji. Make a big enough one, and I would, too!

Here's the American versions of those: http://www.stacksandstacks.com/html/product75_0.htm

Nowhere near as attractive, I'm afraid!

Yes GW, the bigger versions of these and your imagination is pretty good. Something like a 'garden igloo'? Kids love it! At home they sometimes play with mats and bedcovers to make a little tent and love being inside it.

It's amazing how you bounce back with apt links. Esp. a couple of those racks (very similar) are used as space-savers in apartments for drying on balconies. I have made one (though I have lots of space for them) from an old TV antenna and it is used to dry the smaller cotton clothes and we can move it out to the sun whenever we want.

Coming back to add to Karrie's suggestion that I can send a few seeds from my garden to Ursula.

This message was edited May 26, 2004 11:55 AM

I didn't guess, but enjoyed your game Dinu. I love hearing about people and how things are done in other places in the world.

It is always fun to see your items, I enjoyed this thread!

I myself didn't guess that this would give some pleasure at least to a few people! Thanks very much.

Those are downright pretty.