..i feel it in my toes (hum to the tune of that fantabulous song in Love Actually) Spring is beginning to be all around me, and so the feeling grows....
What I'm trying to say is that I have the urge to plant! It's time of the year when my car seems to drive itself to nurseries a bit too often.
But plant where? Every scare inch of my garden is occupied either by an existing plant or by the plant that is sure to emerge and take over come april.
The solution might be to go up, up, up. Like the French Landscaper botanist genius Patrick Blanc. I told you about him here but a lot has happened in the world of vertical gardening since, as those pictures show.
There is an insane amount of brilliant stuff on Patrick Blank's website. Here are some of my favorites.
This is not about a great selection of plants. Blanc devised a special metal frame so that the plants can grow parallel to the surfaces without adding weight or humidity to them. It's fascinating.
He says that plants only need soil as a mean of support. What they need is water and mineral and light, which the system provides. Also, as long as water is abundant, plants only creates lighter, smaller, non invasive roots. Without the presence of soil, the planting then becomes light enough so that it can be done vertically.
He uses seeds and cuttings, applies them to a structure made of metal and PVC.
I'm assuming he used cuttings here:
This one is perfect for the rain.
I found interesting that the walls seem to be vandalism free. I guess even bad seeds have to bow down to the beauty of nature.
Check the website for dozens of vertical walls all over the world.
Oh, on a different note, the ad below is always a shocker to me: right now it's all about rehab centers. Why? Is it the tone of my posts? Is adsense trying to tell me something? Oh yeah, I mentioned being addicted to political blogs yesterday. What-EVER!
This is absolutely wonderful. We cant't grow anything in Toronto for at least 2 months.
I'm intrigued with Patric Blanc. I'll credit you fully if I use him.
Posted by: Hazel | February 25, 2009 at 02:35 PM
That dress! I've never seen anything quite like that before...amazing!
Posted by: Trishie Koh | February 25, 2009 at 02:45 PM
These are utterly STUNNING. I need a wall...
Posted by: paola | February 25, 2009 at 03:05 PM
Hilarious!! You need rehab!!
Posted by: Danette | February 25, 2009 at 04:07 PM
That first picture is insane, and way cool:)
Posted by: Melissa Lewis - Off The Wall | February 25, 2009 at 06:54 PM
BTW - check out my blog post, i thought of you when i saw this. Have you heard of them before? I am in love!
Posted by: Melissa Lewis - Off The Wall | February 25, 2009 at 06:55 PM
OOOOHH!!! don't plant up, just come to my house. we have a super long growing season and a super sad yard. i can kill a plant by looking in its general direction.
love the photos though. can't wait to see what you do.
Posted by: Jaymee | February 25, 2009 at 08:49 PM
With every post you make me love you more.I don't know if this is 'appropriate' to say in public, but it is true. (Do you think it has to do with the ad below: it reads 'tet your true love').
Corine, I am sick of all the identical looking/feeling blogs. I am seriously considering another kind of gardening, pruning links and lists.
Apart from liking your viewpoint -not all the time, but many times-, I respect the undeniable fact that you do have a viewpoint, even if I don't like it. This is so lacking!
Coming to traditional gardening, I look forward to planting a new range of seeds. I love Spring.
Posted by: Irene | February 26, 2009 at 02:44 AM
Corine, I sow this in Paris, very impressive!!!!
Posted by: karina | February 27, 2009 at 04:23 PM
I am absolutely determined to do one of these wall in my sunken garden. The wall is only about 4 feet high and curves around the cottage. However I can kill a plant by just looking at it. Maybe I should just plant the wall and not look at it :)
Posted by: Di Overton | March 01, 2009 at 02:25 AM