Garden Style, On Trend:
Vertical Gardens
Vertical gardens are an easy way to incorporate living plants into a small space. More than half the world's human population lives in urban areas. Space is at a premium and live plants are a welcome respite in our hectic lives.
Here the girls can't help but investigate the plants growing on this building in Paris. A quiet nature moment in a city of millions. |
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| French born Patrick Blanc is the modern inventor of the vertical garden idea. This garden is one of his early installations built in 2006 as the outside facade of Musee du Quai Branley in Paris. |
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| Blanc started playing with the idea of vertical gardening as teenager. The plants he grew for filtration in his fish aquarium led him to investigate the possibilities of growing plants vertically with little or no soil. Trained as a botanist, he has become a world renowned expert on growing plants vertically in all climate types and in very inhospitable conditions. His recent installation in Sydney Australia covers the side of a 660 foot tall apartment building. The wind conditions at the top of the installation vary dramatically from the lower levels of the building and the planting accommodates those differences. |
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 | | One Central Park, Sydney Australia |
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Blanc believes the psychological benefits of green spaces in urban areas has on people is good for the soul and says "instead of there being nothing, or maybe a scrawl of graffiti, a simple wall can become something poetic."
There are environmental benefits as well. In addition to the increased micro habitats and carbon monoxide absorbing plant life in the city centers, the vertical gardens can also help insulate the building it encases, lowering the energy needs for heating and cooling. |
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 | | Another "living wall" on display at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania |
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Vertical gardens don't need to be on this grand of scale. There are several smaller options for homeowners. Inspired to do a vertical garden of your own?
Watch for a vertical garden tutorial in my next post. |
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