Green Wall
Spring equinox is upon us! On the West Coast the sun is calling us outdoors after hiding behind rain clouds for several months. As you venture forth, there are some great ideas to take with you.
One of the most recent elements of exterior home design is the GREEN WALL. It is considered a vital element by many building developers. In some countries, such as Germany and Japan, builders receive subsidies and tax breaks for installing this sturdy wall panel loaded with plant life.
Traditionally, we're accustomed to ivy or vine-covered walls. Today, multi-colored plants yield a green canvas for our urban communities. Licorice ferns, begonias, huckleberries, even lettuce, create a colorful collage.
Besides adding natural beauty to our concrete surroundings, a Green Wall cleans internal air of dust and smog. It enhances storm water run-off. It increases sound insulation while reducing energy costs.
Pre-packaged green-wall kits, including plants and empty wall racks, are available to fill with your personal palette of grass, ferns, herbs, and berries.
Caution is required regarding the wall you choose. Make sure it's a wall that can withstand water soakings when you tend to your thirsty plants. Is the wall able to ward off plant roots trying to penetrate?
If you're a patio gardener or a condo-dweller you too can participate in the urban greening movement by designing a plant sculpture. The skeletons are available to you, all ready for setting the plants into. For example, you might envision a bear or a deer in your garden; green of course!
Sustainable housing is a fine art. Go Green!
