Plant a Vertical Wall Garden
By Vanessa Richins
Plants really are amazing and versatile.
My friend Andy sent me links about the creations of French botanist Patric Blanc. He specializes in creating vertical wall gardens.
The results are beautiful.
The website for Echo Studio states that “These growing tapestries provide insulation, help filter rainwater that flows across its surface, create a cooling effect, and lend an often surprising visual interest in places one wouldn’t expect to see plants.”
Take a look at his website. I wondered how they were able to grow them so well vertically. For the Musée du Quai Branly, they used a combination of felt and plastic layers as anchors for the plants. These are layered on top of a metal frame, which provides some breathing room for the plants instead of being right next to the wall. This was combined with a drip system to provide nourishment for the plant wall. This method allows planting without soil.
Patric Blanc says, “There are so many places that need (a vertical garden) -Parking lots, train stations, the metro — all those difficult spots, those places where you really don’t expect to encounter the living — that is what interests me above all else.”
Most of his creations can be found in Europe, with other locations including India, Qatar and Malaysia. I want one of my own now!
Would you also like your own vertical wall garden? Here’s one company, based in Australia, that sells kits for vertical gardens. You could also design your own.
Has anyone ever tried to make a vertical garden wall?
August 6th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Vertical gardening is a great idea, especially for people with limited ground space.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
We have only ever trellised our fences as a way of verticle gardening but next year we plan on using the side of the house and our balcony surround as a vertical gardening space. Hey… if you can’t grow out, grow up!
August 7th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Oh, I think I am in love! The pictures on that site are so beautiful- I want to learn to build these. Thank you so much for posting this, Vanessa!
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 am
[...] this summer, UGC writer Vanessa Richins wrote about some lovely wall gardens designed by artist Patric [...]