GENERATION H by miccolimv

GENERATION H

JAN.-MAR. 2020 - 12.00â&#x201A;¬

ISSUE N.0

ALSO IN OTHER SCENTS:

Ocean breeze Aloe and green tea White pine Neroli and thyme Grapefruit Lavender Vanilla mint Coconut and honey

CAREFULLY CRAFTED WITH

NATURAL INGREDIENTS

We craft high-quality products, sourced with ingredients from natural sources.

LEMON OIL

ORAGE OIL

GRAPEFRUIT OIL

PLANT BASED CLEANSERS

ORGAID ORGANIC SHEET MASK The ultimate glow in a box! For when one sheet mask just isn’t enough, we created an allinclusive package containing our entire line of organic masks using Ecoderma fabric that’s sure to suit any skincare fanatic. When it comes to sheet masks, go big or go home!

No parabens, No formaldehyde, No alcohols, No phthalates, No sulfates, No fragrance, No Gluten, No animal testing. The products are made with over than 70% organic ingredients and we use the term ‘organic’ based on California Organic Products Act (COPA). Organic Processed Product Registration (OPPR) number is 99498.

EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LETTER

Generation H is a magazine about house-plants. We search articles that matches our interests about this wonderful and interesting world that nowadays is becoming a great trend. Plants are more and more present in our daily lives and to someone they even become part of the family. Living in the green is something that everyone should definitely do. The aim of our magazine is to stand out and give a new and fresh vision of the house-plantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; world. We hope to create a connection with the reader giving him a sense of relaxation, brightness, cleanness and fresh air on which we build each page of every issue. I was so proud to finally announce to the team that the magazine was a real thing and not a dream anymore. Also because I built the group looking only for the best and for the right people on which I can totally rely on. Finally I can say I found them , all of them. We created an amazing family that will be enlarged with time. Issue number 0 is our pure experiment from which we will learn how to be better and how to improve, because I firmly believe that there is always space for improvements. And that is the most important thing in life. Never look at what you are doing without accepting critics from anyone. Listen, learn and improve. And this will be our motto for the next issues, also because the magazine wants to be interactive. and for every number we will select one of the letters you can send us at letters@generationh.com. Hope to hear from you soon.

Welcome to our green world.

GENERATION H EDITOR IN CHIEF: Maria Vittoria Miccoli Minarelli ART DIRECTOR: Emilia Taylor COPY AND PICTURE EDITOR: Monique Bertrand GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Rick Martinucci ILLUSTRATOR: Bianca De Carli PRODUCTION MANAGER: Jackson Rodriguez COLLABORATORS FOR THIS ISSUE: TEXTS: Axel Anderson, Chiara Arienti, Jackson Banderas, Stephan Blanchette, Maria Callegas, Carmen De Santo, Carlotta Ducati, Karin Ferguson ,Enrico Fizzi, Guglielmo Giorgi, Alexander Hairwitt, Sarah Irwin, Lucas Landcaster, Vittoria Martinetti, Jack Naister, Robert Richardson, Paul Zid. IMAGES: Lamin Abdullah, Elaine Blair, Mario Cantore, Melissa Day, Federico Errichetti, Marissa Farinetti, Chester Murphy, Giorgio Peterson, Joy Ross, Domingo Washington.

CONTENTS 06.

MILLENNIALS ARE OBSESSED WITH HOUSEPLANTS BECAUSE THEY CAN’T AFFORD KIDS

10.

WHY INDOOR PLANTS MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER

12.

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO DECORATING WITH PLANTS

13.

DON’T HAVE A GREEN THUMB? START WITH THESE PLANTS

HOUSEPLANTS’ BENEFITS: 5 BENEFITS OF HOUSEPLANTS

.14

THE SCIENCE BEHIND WHY HOUSEPLANTS ARE GOOD FOR YOU

.16

A LANDSCAPE DESIGNER’S 5 MAIN TIPS FOR BRINGING THE OUTDOORS IN

.20

HOUSEPLANTS THAT ARE SAFE FOR CATS AND DOGS

.24

WHY PLANTS IMPROVE MORNINGS

.40

A FAMILY HOUSE IN KYOTO WITH A TREE GROWING IN THE MIDDLE

.42

6 PLANT-COVERED BUILDINGS THAT POINT TO A GREENER FUTURE

.44

5 REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO INTERIOR DECORATE WITH PLANTS

.48

25.

HOUSEPLANTS TO AVOID WHEN YOU LIVE WITH PETS

26.

IF YOU LIKE IT, THEN YOU SHOULDA PUT A... PLANT ON IT

28.

DESIGNER HILTON CARTER’S BODACIOUS BALTIMORE PAD TEEMS WITH OVER 300 PLANTS

36.

8 PLANT-FILLED ABODES YOU SHOULD FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM RIGHT NOW

50.

3 BEAUTIFULLY SCENTED PLANTS FOR THE KITCHEN

52.

HOW TO CREATE A PLANT LOVING HOME

58. MADE WITH PLANTS 60.

MEET MAKOTO AZUMA

64.

WHY ARE ARTISTS SO OBSESSED WITH PLANTS

68.

PHILODENDRON XANAD

72.

MARC QUINN’S FLOWER SCULPTURES

76.

DESSERTO VEGAN LEATHER FROM CACTUS

78.

NICOLE DEXTRAS

81.

SERA HERSHAM LOFTUS

86.

THERE’S A JUNGLE INSIDE THIS APARTMENT JUST OUTSIDE MUMBAI

BOOK REVIEW

.92

YOUR STORIES

.93 7

MILLENNIALS ARE OBSESSED WITH HOUSEPLANTS BECAUSE THEY CAN’T AFFORD KIDS:

When stability seems so far away, house plants make a shared house feel more like home. By Kashmira Gander

“I think I killed Alejandro,” read a recent distraught Instagram message from my cousin. Above it was a photo of his body, which had turned a putrid yellow in death. Luckily, Alejandro isn’t a person or even an animal. He’s her pet cactus. Like her, I’ve brought half a dozen or so new housemates into my shared flat in London (how long they'll survive remains to be seen). Both aged 26, our plants seem to be filling a space in our lives that would have in generations past been taken up by the stomping feet and sticky fingers of children. You’ve read it a thousand times, but it bears repeating that those born between the early eighties and 2000s are living in a suspended childhood through no fault of their own. We are having children later, are less likely to have secure, stable jobs, or own property. Anything that can liven up our lives that, frankly, can feel a bit hopeless is welcome. Last year, I bought my first plant: a cactus who has reacted to the summer heat by bursting 3ft upwards like an adolescent. Before long, an intimidated-looking doppelganger in a tiny metal bucket popped up beside him in the living room. Then a rubber plant with deep green leaves. Then a succulent who has turned a sort of weary brown colour. Next to that is a plant with fuzzy purple leaves who seems determined to die no matter what you do with him. The latest addition is a bonsai, who looks proud to be one of the lucky ones in the room with a ceramic pot. And my cousin and I aren’t alone in our sad little home projects. Sales of houseplants have spiked in the past few years, bolstered by my friends who spend their weekends browsing the aisles of the local garden centre to build on their plant collections. And on WhatsApp, we swap tips on how the hell to keep them alive. In the US, the 2016 National Gardening Report found that of the six million Americans new to gardening, five million of those were aged between 18 to 34. Pantone a declaring Greenery as its colour for 2017 was just another sign of the trend for all things natural. Since most landlords don’t allow pets, houseplants let us millennials have a go at caring for something other than ourselves - which, honestly, we tend to struggle with. They add personality to our rented homes without the risk of losing our deposits. Towering cacti and cheese plants.

“Of the six million Americans new to gardening, five million of those were aged between 18 to 34.”

They noticed a boom in the popularity of plants in 2016. They scoff at the idea that millennials prefer house plants to children. “While you do have to care for both, the scope of care is completely different,” says Josifovic. “For young people it is much easier to live with houseplants because they require less time and they allow you travel and party as you like, while they keep your apartment pretty and healthy. And seriously, is anyone actually discussing the options of getting a child or buying a plant? We don’t think so!” fake green spaces that we can’t afford in major cities like London. It also helps that my generation is obsessed with health and well-being, as greenery is proven to boost mental health and improve air quality. And, at the most basic level, plants just look really, really cool. Catherine Cottney, global trends manager at the forecasting agency Mintel, adds that our green fingers are also a reaction to our digitally-led lives. Next to that is a plant with fuzzy purple leaves who seems determined to die no matter what you do with him. The latest addition is a bonsai, who looks proud to be one of the lucky ones in the room with a ceramic pot. And my cousin and I aren’t alone in our sad little home projects. Sales of houseplants have spiked in the past few years, bolstered by my friends who spend their weekends browsing the aisles of the local garden centre to build on their plant collections. And on WhatsApp, we swap tips on how the hell to keep them alive. In the US, the 2016 National Gardening Report found that of the six million

“Our green fingers are also a reaction to our digitally-led lives.”

Americans new to gardening, five million of those were aged between 18 to 34. Pantone a declaring Greenery as its colour for 2017 was just another sign of the trend for all things natural. “Tending to a plant gives millennials a chance to take a break from their screens and connect with something tangible in the ‘real world’. This is an issue discussed in Mintel’s Trend Objectify, which looks at how consumers are elevating the value of physical goods in an increasingly digital world. Although not quite as cuddly, plants offer a relationship of sorts, as well as a sense of achievement, as sustained care and attention can help seedlings transform into bigger blooms.” As a visual platform that lends itself to overlays of succulents and snaps of macrame wall plant holders taking over cosy living spaces, Instagram has been central to the trend. Igor Josifovic and Judith de Graaff who run the Urban Jungle Bloggers website and Instagram page are the plant movement’s posterchildren. They shared their first post in 2013, back when beards and sailor tattoos were still edgy. Now, they have over 455,000 followers on Instagram, have releasd a self-titled book.

Igor Josifovic and Judith de Graaff Founders of Urban Jungle Bloggers

But they do see plants as an antidote to fast-paced lives and instant gratification. “Taking care of our houseplants keeps us grounded and slows us down. We learn to be patient again, because plants don’t grow a new flower in seconds, it takes weeks or months to bloom or grow a new leaf.”

9 A festive evening at Flo Atelier Botânico in São Paulo

Magnus Edmondson and India Hobson (known collectively as Haarkon)

Magnus Edmondson and India Hobson behind Haarkon are meanwhile among the top plant influencers in the UK. Their account which documents their 120 house plants and their travels to greenhouses and beautyspots across the country has over 168,000 followers. “Our Instagram feed has always been plant-filled. I guess that’s because that’s what we had around us. We started our account in October 2015. We never really noticed just how plantfilled it is until people pointed it out... There’s something about foliage that we find incredibly pleasing and we only ever share what we like rather than trying to second

guess what will please others.” Asked whether millennials like plants more than children, they decline to answer. “All we know is that plants are nice to have around whether it’s cool or not. It’s interesting to think that these plants we have in our house might be passed on and that we’re just the custodians of them for right now.” And, so like the old Chihuahuas of the mid-2000s are now a sybmol of precredit crunch extravagance, in a decade cacti, succulents and Schefflera will be a reminder of the generaiton who were so hard-up and lost they resorted to forcing their love onto plants.

Interior photography by India Hobson

TO PLANT A GARDEN IS TO BELIEVE IN TOMORROW.

AUDREY HEPBURN 11

WHY INDOOR PLANTS MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER

That whole succulent trend? It’s healthy. By Sophie Lee

Houseplants are good for your health — and not just for their visual beauty. Why? They essentially do the opposite of what we do when we breathe: release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. This not only freshens up the air, but also eliminates harmful toxins. Extensive research by NASA has revealed that houseplants can remove up to 87 per cent of air toxin in 24 hours. Studies have also proven that indoor plants improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15 percent!), reduce stress levels and boost your mood — making them perfect for not just your home but your work space, too. At work, place plants, especially those with broad leaves, on your desk; they will help regulate humidity and increase levels of positivity — seeing greenery and nature help us feel more relaxed and calm, which in turn benefits your every day mood. Indoor plants serve a practical and aesthetic purpose, and will enhance your life.

How to create your personal plant sanctuary An indoor garden can be your refuge from the outside world, and for many people it is a source of great joy. Whether you live in a small apartment, or a large house, by introducing certain plants into your home, you will start to notice improvements to your health, and overall happiness. As well as enhancing your mood and creating a living space that is soothing to be in, plants can also help with loneliness and depression: caring for a living thing gives us a purpose and is rewarding — especially when you see that living thing bloom and thrive.

STUDIES HAVE PROVEN THAT HOUSE PLANTS IMPROVE CONCENTRATION AND PRODUCTIVITY (BY UP TO 15%), REDUCE STRESS LEVELS, AND BOOST YOUR MOOD. 12

To create your perfect green haven, it’s worthwhile spending a little bit of time researching the plants are best suited for each room and what kind of environment.

HERE ARE A FEW POINTERS:

CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLANTS FOR THE AN OPTIMAL NIGHT’S SLEEP.

Although plants release oxygen during the day, it is worth remembering that, at night, when photosynthesis stops, most plants switch things up and release carbon dioxide. However plants such as orchids, succulents, snake plants and bromeliads do the opposite and emit oxygen, making them perfect plants for the bedroom (and getting better sleep).

BEWARE OF TOO MUCH SUN. Most indoor plants don’t like direct midday sun, so please be wary of this when placing plants in your home. There are very obvious warning signs to look out for, such as leaf burn, spotting or sudden leaf-fall. Most plants can be easily rescued, so don’t panic! Often it is a case of not watering them too much, or letting the soil dry out a bit if it is feeling too soggy. Check if your plant is sitting by a cold draft as this can case the leaves to curl and eventually drop off. Organic fertilizers are a great way to revive your plants. Plants are inexpensive way to jazz up even the most boring rooms.

PLANTS ARE AN EASY AND GORGEOUS WAY TO STYLE UP YOUR LIVING SPACE. Adorn your windowsills with succulents, drape vibrant macramé hangers from curtain rails or try something big and bold like the gorgeous fiddle leaf fig. You can also have fun with the pots, and display your plants in beautiful ceramic and copper containers. Owning plants doesn’t have to be expensive: just take a cutting from a friend’s plant or from your local plant shop, and propagate your plant from scratch.

SOME PLANTS LIKE IT HOT. Knowing what plants are best for what room is crucial when it comes to plant styling: the bathroom is perfect for air plants and kokedama (Japanese hanging moss ball), as the excess moisture from your daily shower helps those particular plants flourish. If you’re lucky enough to have a sunroom or a super hot room, then fill it with ferns, palms, succulents and cacti as they will love the heat.

If you are new to gardening, here is a selection of plants that will suit you perfectly. All will provide you with lots of greenery, are easy to look after and reasonably priced.

MONSTERA DELICIOSA (Swiss cheese plant):

It is fairly inexpensive to buy a 12 inch Monstera and it grows quickly, so you could get some easy height and beautiful leaves in under 3 months.

EPIPREMNUM AUREUM (golden pothos or devil’s ivy): This is a great group of plants to get started with as they are relatively low maintenance. The trailing varieties sprout new leaves regularly and are great in a hanging planter such as a macramé hanger. However, they are toxic to cats and dogs. HEDERA (ivy): Ivy is almost indestructible and has a

good telltale sign when it needs watering as the leaves will look limp and soft.

CHLOROPHYTUM COMOSUM (spider plant):

These are great low maintenance plants, which need watering from the bottom perhaps once a week and a misting every now and then. They sprout babies regularly, off the end of their leaves, that are easy to propagate; you will be inundated with baby plants, which you can then share with friends and family.

Succulents are perfect for beginners or people with brown thumbs (we're not judging!).

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO DECORATING WITH PLANTS

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T HAVE A GREEN THUMB? START WITH THESE PLANTS

START WITH AN EASY PLANT SUCH AS A CACTUS OR SUCCULENT.

Many people think succulents and cacti are the same thing, as most cacti are classed as succulents. However, although the majority of cacti are also succulents, there are many other succulent plants that are not cacti. The main difference is that cacti always have bumps called areoles from which hair or spikes grow, whereas other kinds of succulents do not.

CACTI CAN SURPRISE YOU. One of the wonderful things about cacti is that they will tolerate your terrible behavior for years and years, and then they will surprise you with flowers when they get growing again. It is a myth that cacti only flower once in a blue moon: nearly half of all healthy cacti will produce flowers by their third year if cared for correctly. Cacti flower on new growth, which is promoted by caring for them throughout the summer and neglecting them in the winter. Also, flowering is often stimulated when the plant is pot-bound (where the roots completely fill the pot). For people new to keeping house plants, this is a great plant group to get started on, as they only require a light misting of water every so often.

SUCCULENTS ARE PERFECT FIRST PLANTS. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re low maintenance, easy to propagate and suited to most homes. They are best placed on the windowsill where they can get the most sunlight. Identifying a succulent is pretty straightforward, as they have thick, fleshy leaves or stems. Many types are a rosette shape and have tightly packed leaves, which help to conserve water in their natural habitat. You could simply start with an Echeveria and Sempervivum (houseleek) collection as they can provide an interesting group without any other plants and there are lots of varieties to collect.

NEVER OVERWATER. Most people kill their houseplants by pouring water down the center of the plant, giving the plant much more water than it needs, and then the water has nowhere to go so it then sits in the plant. Excess stagnant water then causes root rot, which causes the plant to die. Either water from the bottom using a saucer if the plant pot has drainage or mist regularly with an atomizer, which helps to increase the humidity around your plant and keeps your plant happy!

HOUSEPLANTS’ BENEFITS 5 Benefits of Houseplants: When you embellish interior spaces with houseplants, you’re not just adding greenery. These living organisms interact with your body, mind and home in ways that enhance the quality of life.

Breathing Easier

Improving Health

When you breathe, your body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This opposite pattern of gas use makes plants and people natural partners. Adding plants to interior spaces can increase oxygen levels. At night, photosynthesis ceases, and plants typically respire like humans, absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. A few plants – orchids, succulents and epiphytic bromeliads – do just theopposite, taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Place these plants in bedrooms to refresh air during the night.

Adding plants to hospital rooms speeds recovery rates of surgical patients, according to researchers at Kansas State University. Compared to patients in rooms without plants, patients in rooms with plants request less pain medication, have lower heart rates and blood pressure, experience less fatigue and anxiety, and are released from the hospital sooner. The Dutch Product Board for Horticulture commissioned a workplace study that discovered that adding plants to office settings decreases fatigue, colds, headaches, coughs, sore throats and flu-like symptoms. In another study by the AgriculturalUniversity of Norway, sickness rates fell by more than 60 percent in offices with plants.

Releasing Water As part of the photosynthetic and respiratory processes, plants release moisture vapor, which increases humidity of the air around them. Plants release roughly 97% of the water they take in. Place several plants together, and you can increase the humidity of a room, which helps keeps respiratory distresses at bay. Studies at the Agricultural University of Norway document that using plants in interior spaces decreases the incidence of dry skin, colds, sore throats and dry coughs.

Sharpening Focus A study at The Royal College of Agriculture in Circencester, England, found that students demonstrate 70% greater attentiveness when they’re taughtin rooms containing plants. In the same study, attendance was also higher for lectures given in classrooms with plants.

How Many Plants? Purifying Air Plants remove toxins from air –up to 87% of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) every 24 hours, according to NASA research. VOCs include substances like formaldehyde (present in rugs, vinyl, cigarette smoke and grocery bags), benzene and trichloroethylene (both found in man-made fibers, inks, solvents and paint). Benzene is commonly found in high concentrations in study settings, where books and printed papers abound. Modern climatecontrolled, air-tight buildings trap VOCs inside. The NASA research discovered that plants purify that trapped air by pulling contaminants into soil, where root zone microorgaisms convert VOCs into food for the plant.

The recommendations vary based on your goals. To improve health and reduce fatigue and stress, place one large plant (8-inch diameter pot or larger) every 129 square feet. In office or classroom settings, position plants so each person has greenery in view. To purify air, use 1518 plants in 6-8-inch diameter pots for an 1,800-squarefoot house. That’s roughly one larger plant every 100 square feet. Achieve similar results with two smaller plants (4-5-inch pots).

REMEMBER: FOR THE BEST SUCCESS WITH ANY HOUSEPLANT, YOU NEED TO MATCH THE RIGHT PLANT TO THE RIGHT GROWING CONDITIONS.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND WHY HOUSEPLANTS ARE GOOD FOR YOU Plants are one of our favorite items to place in our homes. They are beautiful, can be full of personality, and literally add life to your space. But did you know that a houseplant is actually good for your health? While that cute basket you found at the flea market may bring you joy on the daily, a plant can literally clear the air and make your home a better living environment for you and your body. Why? It all comes down to science. As we are getting further away from nature thanks to our preference for living in cities over the countryside, our contact with natural plants is currently lower than it should be. "Biophilia is becoming more relevant as people are raised within urban settings, and surrounded by technology rather than nature and other living things," shares Paris Lalicata, customer experience coordinator at The Sill and a student of the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

"Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I feel itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vital for humans to coexist with these elements rather than close our doors to them," she says. "Plants are our natural partners in life and incorporating them into our lives could not only help us reconnect with the natural world, but also benefit our health and well being." The Science Behind Why Houseplants Are Good For You. Illustrated by Briana Gagnier for Lonny. Does looking at your houseplants make you feel happier? That's nature at work. "Seeing green leafy plants is good for us, cognitively and emotionally," shares Dr. Sally Augustin, an environmental and design psychologist and the principal at Design With Science. "When we are looking at a green leafy plant, our stress levels can go down, our mood can improve, and our minds can work more effectively. We are even likely to think more creatively."

That's why adding plants to spaces where you down to business is essential. "There is really good evidence showing biophilic elements in the workplace have positive effects on wellbeing, helping you to focus and lower stress levels," notes Lily Bernheimer, an environmental psychologist and director of Space Works Consulting. Even being able to look out the window or just seeing a reproduction of greenery can give your mood a boost. "Artwork can bring the same sorts of biophilic benefits that we see from plants if it features natural scenes," she shares. While having multiple plants in your home is a positive influence on your mental health, it's still important to maintain some balance in the space. "It's important to add the right concentration of plants to an environment,"explains Augustin. "It's good if people can see just a couple of moderately sized plants at one time or a smaller number of larger plants. Creating an interior jungle can be counterproductive â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it can stress us out." Another positive thing about plants? They naturally work to clear the air in your space. Remember learning about photosynthesis back in school? We'll give you a refresher. When plants take in a mix of carbon dioxide (which we breathe out) and sunlight, then produce oxygen that's expelled into the environment around them. More oxygen means cleaner air for us. There are even some plants that go the extra step to eliminate other kinds of bad toxins. Spider plants, for instance, can help remove benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene from the air.

"Pollution is not only found in the outdoor air of dense cities, but also within the places we call work and home," says Lalicata. "Airborne toxins and pollutant gases are emitted from mechanical equipment and building materials and contaminate the indoor air that we breathe." "Good news is that we can improve quality with plants! They have the ability to exchange water and gases with their surroundings and capture these pollutants and convert them into stored energy, releasing naturally filtered air as a byproduct," she explains. "They can do this by absorbing the pollutants through the leaves, and transmitting the toxins to their roots where theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re converted into a food source. If you want to add a breath of fresh air to your space, head to your local nursery and pick up a few greens that can thrive in your home. "Decreasing indoor air pollution doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require creating an indoor jungle," says Lalicata. "About five to 10 plants in six to eight-inch planters are enough to clean a 800-square-foot space."

OUR SCIENTIFIC HYPOTHESIS? A HOUSE FULL OF PLANTS LEADS TO A HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER YOU.

A LANDSCAPE DESIGNER'S 5 MAIN TIPS FOR BRINGING THE OUTDOORS IN By Jennifer Baum Lagdame A recent NASA study found that houseplants can remove up to 87 percent of air toxins within 24 hours, while other studies have linked them to increased productivity, concentration, and creativity while decreasing stress and anxiety. With the winter months upon us, you might find yourself looking for ways to bring some green indoors. Well, we turned to an expert to get some advice on how to do this in your own home. Landscape Designer Fernando Wong is the creative mind behind a diverse portfolio of projects ranging from The Four Seasons At The Surf Club in Surfside, Florida, to the Sculpture Garden at the recently opened Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami’s Design District. With the winter months upon us, you might find yourself looking for ways to bring some green indoors. Well, we turned to an expert to get some advice on how to do this in your own home. Landscape Designer Fernando Wong is the creative mind behind a diverse portfolio of projects ranging from The Four Seasons At The Surf Club in Surfside, Florida, to the Sculpture Garden at the recently opened Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami’s Design District. From his home base in Miami Beach, Wong (who has Panamanian roots) has been fortunate enough to not have to to hunker down for the winter months, but with a new outpost in Southhampton and projects all over the world, the international landscape designer knows how to make a stunning statement by bringing the outdoors in. “I believe that there’s a language through vegetation that can make people feel one way or another,” he explains. Take a look at these five tips from Wong to help you create a little design-worthy, indoor vegetation of your own. And make sure to explore our gift guide for the plant collector for some amazing planters, terrariums, and other necessities for the indoor gardener.

1. Opt For a Vertical Garden Turn a blank or otherwise bland wall into a major focal point with a vertical gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from a full-length living wall to a smaller, wall-mounted container-style option that allows you to display herbs, succulents, or plants in rows. Remember that plant type, lighting, and watering conditions are top considerations when installing a vertical garden. Try pothos, philodendron, sword fern, wedding fine, or crotons as a starting point. Another tip: use a vertical garden as a room divider, like the ones offered by SuitePlants.

2. Use Modular Plant Panels As Art A living wall installation can feel like a stroll through the garden. Use succulents and planter boxes framed in wood and layer multiples of them throughout your space for an artful result. Try Woolly Pocket or the Tipsy Gardener to inspire a living wall art project thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s truly memorable.

3. Try Shower Plants Water features like pools and fountains make a statement outdoors. Achieve a similar effect by bringing in plants that are bathroom- and shower-friendly to create a spainspired atmosphere. Peace lilies, aloe, and snake plants work well.

4. Get Creative With Plant-Inspired Wallpaper and Textiles Looking for a garden-inspired look without the actual maintenance? Incorporate wallpaper and textiles that encourage a feeling of total serenity, as Wong has done in his own Palm Beach apartment. “The wallpaper in the master bath gives an instant South Florida feel,” he says. “It’s the most seamless indoor/outdoor connection.”

5. Incorporate Succulents Throughout Your Home These low-maintenance plants work well on garden windows, floating shelves, and in terrariums.

CLICK AND GROW SMART GARDEN Lo Smart Garden Ă¨ un sistema innovativo, studiato per coltivare il tuo orto in casa in modo automatizzato. Si occupa delle piante assicurandosi che abbiano abbastanza acqua, luce e sostanze nutritive in ogni momento.

89,90â&#x201A;Ź

HOUSEPLANTS THAT ARE SAFE FOR CATS AND DOGS If you have pets, these indoor plants are a worry-free way to add greenery to your home. Common household plants like aloe and philodendron are toxic to pets, causing distressing symptoms like irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Keep your furry friends safe with these pet-friendly picks:

AIR PLANT BIRD’S NEST FERN ECHEVERIA KIMBERLY QUEEN FERN MAJESTY PALM MONEY TREE PLANT PARLOR PALM PILEA PEPEROMIOIDES PRAYER PLANT SPIDER PLANT STAGHORN FERN STROMANTHE ZEBRA HAWTHORNIA

Looking for Something Else?

Catnip Grow Kit Urban Outfitters €16

The Sill Pet-friendly Plants monthly subscription The Sill €35

The Cat Ladies Organic Pet Grass Kit Chewy €15.97

HOUSEPLANTS TO AVOID WHEN YOU LIVE WITH PETS Calling all pet parents while these houseplants can undoubtedly liven up your home, they can also be quite dangerous for your furry friends. There’s no doubt plants play a vital part in creating a cozy living space. However, it is important to choose your greenery carefully, especially if you have pets around. The next time you’re itching to bring a new plant into your home, make sure it’s not one of the following six.

ALOE POTHOS JADE SNAKE PLANTS PHILODENDRON DIEFFENBACHIA

Remember: if you think your pet may have been poisoned by a household plant, be sure to call your vet.

IF YOU LIKE IT, THEN YOU SHOULDA PUT A...

plant on it

Clean air, easy care: pretty, tough houseplants that purify. By Of The Wolves

I feel like a squatter in any space until my plants are nestled within the walls. Wonders of both form and function, these botanical babies light up a home in a way that no electrical mechanism can. They bring spirit and vivacity. They cleanse and charm. They yield restorative magic. Because of their unique capability to beautify and vitalize, I consider houseplants a must-have. Flora is inherently therapeutic. When we bring the outdoors in, physical and mental (and I dare say emotional) health benefits result. Proximity to plants fortifies health and expedites healing. How? Consider the biology: during photosynthesis plants consume atmospheric carbon dioxide and respire life-giving oxygen. They excel at phytoremediation – the detoxification of our environment. Roots and leaves gobble up trace contaminants from our air, reduce the amount of airborne dust and increase interior humidity. Plants

literally fight indoor air pollution (which is often worse than the contaminated air outside). Rumor has it, the positive influences of the plant kingdom don’t stop with purifying air and boosting physical health; the mere presence of plants in an interior environment has been shown to reduce anxiety and improve mood, concentration, memory retention and productivity. Even more fascinating is the finding that people who maintain a proximity to plants express greater compassion, empathy, generosity and trust in social relationships. Don’t believe me just yet? Take a look at some of these scientific studies on the many numerous benefits of being around plant life: NASA pt. 1 + NASA pt. 2 + SCIENCE DAILY. While it’s clear that plants elevate our quality of life, few use them abundantly. Perhaps this is due to the "trouble" with plants: you have to

care for them, or you will lose them. Isn’t that true of most (all) things that matter in life? Here I attempt to convince you that the output of beauty and well-being from plants is completely worthy of the necessary input—the time and energy to care for your green creatures. I also fully recognize these precious things — time and energy — are in short supply for most of us in our busy lives. Taking that into consideration, this series was designed to help you maximize your efforts. We will focus on plants that do a lot for us yet require little in return. These plants can handle a little slack, like irregular watering, dry climates, cold temps or super low light. On a whole, they are, frankly, hard to kill. The chore of bringing the outdoors in can be lessened by choosing the right organisms. I hope the hearty plants introduced in this small series inspire you to level up and bring in the green.

DESIGNER HILTON CARTER’S BODACIOUS BALTIMORE PAD TEEMS WITH OVER 300 PLANTS By Laura Mauk

Designer and author Hilton Carter invites us into his lush home, and shares his tips for creating an indoor jungle. When designer Hilton Carter furnished the industrial-style Baltimore apartment and work studio he shares with his wife Fiona, their dog Charlie and two cats Zoe and Isabella, he created, in effect, a wondrous indoor woodland that offers all the benefits of being outdoors without leaving home. "I wanted to create the feeling that nature has crept back in and taken over everything," says Carter, describing their plant-filled abode. The author of Wild at Home: How to Style and Care for Beautiful Plants explains, "I have a lot of climbing plants because I like that, no matter what, they're going to attach and find their way up. It's life. That's what it does. I love those photographs you see of old, abandoned buildings with greenery everywhere, and there's even a tree growing through the middle. I want to live in that space. It's exciting—you don't know if you're inside or outside, but you're home." We recently caught up with the plant-loving designer and found out all there is to know about living wild.

"You don’t know if you’re inside or outside, but you’re home." - Hilton Carter

A plant-filled window seat in the bedroom and the hallway displays plant variety. “I like putting different textures and forms next to each other,” Carter says. “I’m not interested in everything being the same.”

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR ATHOME JUNGLE? Back in 2011, I visited a cafe in Pennsylvania that was inside a greenhouse. I saw how it transformed the space and how at peace I felt while dining there. I knew instantly that when I had the time and a space with the right light and ceiling height, I would jungle-fy my home.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO FILL YOUR APARTMENT WITH PLANTS, AND WAS THERE A PROCESS YOU FOLLOWED?

I've been bringing plants into my home for the past 6 years. If there was [available] light and I had time to care for another one, I'd bring it home. Now we've reached our limit, so no new plants for us. Well, unless we can get our hands on a Raven ZZ plant. It has these really cool dark purple, almost black, leaves.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND CARING FOR YOUR PLANTS, AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO MAINTAIN THEM?

I spend about three or four hours a week watering, wiping down leaves, rooting and talking to my plants.

Carter waters his living wall.

A leather sofa, brass floor lamp, and wood coffee table in Carter’s work studio.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE IN TERMS OF HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS KIND OF INDOOR LUSHNESS?

The only way is to do the work. For me, setting calendar alerts on my phone to remind myself when to water has helped tremendously. Also, it's important to stay involved in what's happening with each plant. You've to note when an issue has occurred and figure out why. Finally, never place your plants in hard-to-get-to places. You can take better care of them when they're easy to reach. Don't tuck a plant behind a couch you've to move every time you water or don't hang one up high so you need a ladder to reach it. Set yourself up for success, not failure.

HOW WOULD YOU ADVISE A NOVICE TO BEGIN A JUNGLE?

Someone who’s green to greenery should start by doing a little research about what plants will work with the type of light they’ve in their home. You might think that because you travel a lot, you should have cacti because they don’t need to be watered often. But if you’ve a dark apartment, cacti won’t work because they need a ton of sunlight. And if you live in Arizona and your home is hot and dry and filled with sunlight, then a fern isn’t going to work for you because they need a cooler temperature to thrive. You’ve to be self-aware and honest about what kind of plant parent you’re likely to be and how much time you have or are willing to spend weekly caring for your plants.

WHY DID YOU CREATE A LIVING WALL IN ADDITION TO PLACING POTTED PLANTS?

Our living wall came about when my wife and I were first thinking of moving into this space. I knew I wanted a green wall, but my wife knew doing it the traditional way was out of our budget. I'd already been propagating in test tubes and thought of using the method on our wall. I designed holders I call cradles and had 16 of them manufactured for the wall. We now have 66 various cuttings from plants we clipped on our travels. The test tubes and cradles work so well that I made more to sell on my website. The best is that when visitors come over, they can leave with a cutting right from the wall. Propagating is what made me so excited when I first got into plants. Taking a cutting from its mother plant, placing it in water, and watching roots develop is so satisfying. And propagating is what allowed us to increase our plant family. It's cheaper than going out and purchasing a new plant every other week. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

WHAT DESIGN ELEMENTS COMPLEMENT A PLANT-FILLED INTERIOR?

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something about green foliage against stone, wood, and woven pieces. Maybe I like having the feeling that everything is part of nature.

Succulents and cacti fill a sun-drenched nook in the hallway.

HOW DO YOU STYLE THIS MANY PLANTS IN AN APARTMENT OR HOME?

When you've limited space, you've to get creative. That means using vertical and not just horizontal space. In our bedroom, I decided it would be awesome to hang a plant over our bed. I convinced my wife Fiona to weave a hammock-like holder. You can also collect cool ceramic and woven pots.

A living wall Carter created using plant cuttings set in custom glass tubes and wood cradles or holders manufactured in Baltimore.

WHY ARE WE NOW SEEING MORE GREENERY IN INTERIOR DESIGN?

I think designers are aware that these days everyone is trying to connect with nature in some sort of way.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLANTS AND WHY?

My favorite plant in our home is Frank, our fiddle-leaf fig, because he was the first plant I purchased and the one that has been through the most with me. My second favorite is all the rest because you don’t want to make any of them feel bad. Okay, fine. Don’t tell them I said this, but my second favorite is our rubber tree, Rubbs McGee. You must keep that between us.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LIVING WITH INDOOR GREENERY?

When you enter a green-filled space, you instantly feel a change in air quality. Plants clean the air and provide oxygen. They've also been proven to help reduce stress, which for me has been a huge benefit. Watering and caring for my plants is time I find so therapeutic. It's my meditation. And lastly, living with plants just makes you feel like you're on a year-round vacation. It's honestly the best kind of glamping.

Buffalo 66 movie poster and the dining area with a Venetian plaster-like finish on the walls

A painting by Carter hangs above a wood credenza in the work studio. Carterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife Fiona crafted a woven plant holder for above the bed and potted and climbing plants with vintage mirrors and artworks in the bedroom.

Carter designed a terrarium-turned-table lamp for the living room. and Carter’s wife Fiona surrounded by their plants. “It’s a family portrait,” says Carter. Finally Carter and his wife Fiona.

Carter’s book: “Wild at Home: How to Style and Care for Beautiful Plants”

8 PLANT-FILLED ABODES YOU SHOULD Lush and leafy, these indoor jungles are a breath of fresh air.

While the benefits of forest bathing are known, nature and parklands arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always accessible for city dwellers. The next best thing is having a home that's filled with frond friends, as evidenced by the dreamily green homes tagged #planstagram. Take a moment to meditate with the foliage-filled abodes of the Instagrammers below, and find inspiration for creating your own urban garden. By Jen Woo

FRIEDERIKE WEID / @friederikchen Friederike Weid describes her home as a small urban jungle. Her space combines contemporary, pared-back furniture with antique finds. In a Scandinavian-meets-boho aesthetic, her maximalist side comes out in plants.

HILTON CARTER / @hiltoncarter

Nestled in Baltimore, Maryland, is the glamorous home of plant stylist Hilton Carter. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about jewel tones and texture, from the patterned chaise lounge in the photo above to vintage rugs. His house even has a throne with chair perched in the center of what feels like a lush rainforest.

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM RIGHT NOW NELSON DE CONINCK / @nelplant Twenty-one-year-old Nelson De Coninck has created an airy sanctuary in Belgium that’s flush with foliage. While clean and contemporary, his home maintains a sense of playfulness with quirky pots, unique lighting, and a gallery wall with the reminder, “Water your plants.”

THEODORA / @______theo

Every element of Theodora’s space is artfully placed, and each piece curated, but it’s far from stuffy: her Berlin flat exudes a sense of warmth, charming in its arrangement of vintage furnishings and decor.

MATT AND TISH / @nolongerwander

As photographers, shop owners, stylists, and bloggers, creative couple Matt and Tish keep a vibrant, inspiring home that brims with plants and textures. Leather, rattan, and shag abound in their little haven, which pairs antique finds with handcrafted pieces.

DARRYL CHENG / @houseplantjournal Darryl Cheng is a consultant and speaker specializing in houseplants. Located in Toronto, Ontario, his airy home keeps a stone-hued palette to allow his green babies to be in the spotlight. As a plant expert, he offers a wealth of knowledge through his Instagram account and book, The New Plant Parent.

JAYE WORKMAN / @thrift_plantabode_

Jaye Workman is a treasure hunter, and her eagle eye is readily apparent from her cozy casa. She amasses thrift store finds, new homewares, and, of course, plants in her Adelaide Hills home in Australia. She even has an entire wall of floorto-ceiling shelving dedicated solely to pretty pieces and foliage.

CARA ANDERSON / @plantroost

With a degree in environmental design in the faculty of architecture, with an emphasis in interior design, Cara Anderson knows a thing or two about putting a home together. In addition to filling spaces with plants, she also curates rooms for Casaza. Her home in Canada fuses contemporary charm via classic furnishings with earthly elements like woven pieces and macrame.

IF YOU HAVE A GARDEN AND A LIBRARY YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

CICERO 41

WHY PLANTS IMPROVE MORNINGS By Parachute and The Sill

Not everyone is a morning person—and that’s okay. However, there are a few things you can do to embrace the early hours (and we don’t just mean crushing a giant mug of coffee). Did you know the presence of houseplants will improve even the toughest mornings? Not only are they beautiful to behold, but plants also make you happier and healthier. What House Plants Do House plants improve air quality by naturally converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. They filter out toxins that accumulate in stagnant air (such as formaldehyde), which are released by synthetic building materials. As if cleaning your air wasn’t enough, indoor plants also boost your mood, reduce your stress and increase productivity and creativity – hello, best friends. Plus, plants are super therapeutic to care for. No matter which plant you pick, adding them to your space – and your morning routine – is well worthwhile. While your cup of coffee brews, give your

plant a quick once over. Monitor it for signs of growth and general well-being, and then reflect on your own. Meditate on its natural beauty, breathing deeply and appreciating the clean air it provides. Give it a little water and remind yourself to hydrate this morning. Acknowledge your gratitude for its life and yours. Admire it. Let it make you happy. Did we mention plants are great listeners? A plant companion will make your morning a little better. Get out all of your aggression about that know-it-all co-worker before you get to the office—then arrive to work happier and healthier.

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A FAMILY HOUSE IN KYOTO WITH A TREE GROWING IN THE MIDDLE by Caroline Williamson

Designed for a family of five in a quiet neighborhood in northern Kyoto city, the House in Kyoto has an open living plan that allows the parents to keep an eye on their active children. The location proved challenging for 07BEACH, as surrounding houses are built right up to the property line on three sides. Once space for two cars was mapped out just off the street, little room was left for a garden. A traditional interior courtyard was nixed due to how much space it would take up, which led the architect to keep the central part of the home open with double-height ceilings, skylights, and an indoor tree. The light-filled living room now feels connected to the outdoors without sacrificing much-needed space. The growing tree is planted in the center part of the homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s living area with the rest of the rooms built out from there allowing the family to stay connected. The bathroom sits just off the living area open to the space like an open-air bath. Sliding glass doors and a curtain are available for privacy if anyone desires it. The master bedroom is right behind the bathroom. Opposite the bathroom is the kitchen and dining room which benefit from the natural light pouring in from above. Upstairs, three identical bedrooms for the children are lined up on one side with a large tatami room on the other.

6 PLANT-COVERED BUILDINGS THAT POINT TO A GREENER FUTURE Architects are touting plant-covered tower blocks as a way to tackle air pollution and improve the quality of urban life. From one of the world's tallest living walls to an entire "vertical forest" city in China, here are 9 examples showing the rise of verdant architecture.

ROSEWOOD TOWER, BRAZIL, BY JEAN NOUVEL

Ateliers Jean Nouvel has recently designed a plant-covered luxury hotel in SĂŁo Paulo, which will feature staggered terraces overflowing with trees and a latticed Corten-steel facade.

ECO-LUXURY HOTEL, FRANCE, BY KENGO KUMA

Kengo Kuma has also designed a heavily planted luxury hotel. Proposed for the Left Bank of Paris' River Seine, the building will feature lush greenery escaping from a facade comprised of overlapping wooden blocks.

M6B2 TOWER OF BIODIVERSITY, FRANCE, BY MAISON EDOUARD FRANÃ&#x2021;OIS

This eco-friendly apartment block in Paris is wrapped in stainless-steel netting that acts as a climbing frame for plants. When the wind blows, their seeds will be spread in the city.

RAVEL PLAZA, AMSTERDAM, BY MVRDV

MVRDV incorporated plants and trees in its design for a sprawling complex in Amsterdamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s financial district, which will feature protruding bay windows and angular balconies.

EAST VILLAGE, LEBANON, BY JEAN MARC BONFILS

A vertical garden contrasts with traditional timber and stone cladding on the facades of this apartment block and art gallery in Beirut, inspired by an adjacent garden that is no longer accessible to the public.

CENTRAL PARK, AUSTRALIA, BY JEAN NOUVEL

Jean Nouvel teamed up with Patrick Blanc for this pair of apartment towers in Sydney that boasts balconies spilling with plants, as well as a huge vertical garden and a cantilevering structure that reflects light down to lower levels.

5 REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO INTERIOR DECORATE WITH PLANTS by Carlene Duffy

I have an uncanny knack of killing indoor plants no matter how carefully I follow the water and sunlight requirements so helpfully provided by the picket tag that comes with the plant, writes Interior Design and Renovation TV Personality, Carlene Duffy. The true number of plants I have killed is evident by the number of now empty pot plants clogging up my garage. I refuse to get rid of the planters because I am holding on to hope of replacing those dead plants with flourishing new plants that I will most certainly keep alive. The real shame in my plant carnage is not the large amount of money I’ve wasted on plants but the fact that I really, really love houseplants (tall or short, cascading hanging plants, lined up along a window sill, grouped in plant stands, in pots, and in baskets). So when they start to look sad, I get sad. The ones I have managed to nurture work for me and my home in so many ways and here is why. 1. Plants fill dead space I hate dead space in a home. I’m the antithesis of a minimalist (I’m not cool enough). I love layers and a filled home, so when I see empty corners in homes (any home) I am compelled to fill them. The easiest, most obvious and most effective way to do that is with a plant. 2. Plants can fill out walls When you are faced with a large wall to fill, it’s important to fill it out with furniture that is proportionate to the scale of the wall so that whatever pieces you have sitting on or in front of the wall won’t be dwarfed by the wall.

I recently encountered this issue whilst consulting on an interiors project. My client had large walls to fill but fell in love with a bench seat that wasn’t long enough for the space. So that they could have the piece of furniture they wanted we plumped the wall out by positioning a large plant next to the seat. Problem no more. 3. Plants help soften angular lines I often use plants at the end of side boards, bench seats, and TV units to help soften the hard edges of these flat surfaced pieces of furniture. There is a softness in plants that helps warm a home by finishing off those angular edges.I particularly encourage plants in bathrooms, which can be otherwise cold, hard-surfaced spaces. 4. Plants add life Yes, you might argue that this is obvious, because plants are in fact alive, but they are also an indication of a home that is lived-in and loved. Greenery also adds life to a space in the figurative sense, which I suspect has something to with the fact that nature tends to invigorate us. 5. Plants add colour without competing with other colours It doesn’t matter what colour scheme you have going on, plants will always work with it and although being generally green, they don’t ever conflict with other colours. If you are scared of bold colours and lean towards a more neutral colour palette, greenery is an ideal means of injecting some colour into your interior that you have absolutely no reason to be afraid of.

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3 BEAUTIFULLY SCENTED PLANTS FOR THE KITCHEN Houseplants are a simple way to transform your space, adding a touch of colour and life to your home. They're even good for you, as they reduce stress and improve air quality and can give a room a new lease of life. Adding a few plants can really brighten up utilitarian rooms like kitchens, and make daily tasks like dishwashing and cooking a little more pleasant. Growing your own herbs and window-sill salad ingredients is environmentally friendly, too. Did you know that nearly 72% of shoppers now take the environmental impact of their shopping choices into consideration when they purchase food and other groceries? Try these three beautifully scented plants in your kitchen:

ORCHIDS:

These exotic looking beauties make a great addition to any kitchen. They come in a variety of different colours and scents, so there's something for everyone. Try the yellow, lemon-scented Cymbidium Golden Elf. They're perfect for kitchens as they prefer warmer rooms and they're also surprisingly easy to look after, as they don't need daily watering. Instead, just once a week, fill your kitchen sink with a few inches of cold water and set your orchids in to have a drink for about 30 minutes. Voila!

JASMIN:

The delicate, sweet floral fragrance of jasmine gives your kitchen a touch of elegance and luxury. People have been giving Jasmine flowers different symbolic and spiritual meanings, such as motherhood, purity, or devotion, so it will add a pleasant touch to your home in any case. There are several varieties that can do well indoors Arabian jasmine, for example, flowers most of the year. Jasmine thrives in sunny but humid environments. Place it near a window, keep its soil moist, and feed it an all-purpose houseplant fertiliser in the spring and summer months. Once your jasmine plant is well-established and flowering, you could even try making your own jasmine tea!

HERBS:

Some plants can pull triple duty for the senses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just look pretty and taste incredible, they smell great, too! While all kitchens would benefit from having a windowsill herb garden, there are a few useful herbs that smell especially delicious. Basil is an easy to grow, fragrant herb that tastes great in a Caprese salad, topping pizza and pasta

Tip: If you’re ever faced with too much of a good thing and your herbs need to be pruned back to stay on your windowsill, don’t throw away the excess trimmings! Preserve your herbs by drying them on a baking sheet in the oven on a low heat, or mix them with butter or olive oil and freeze them in an ice cube tray to make your own easy to use flavour-bombs.

dishes, or used as a base for homemade pesto.I’m growing red rubin basil from seeds in my kitchen, because it has a stronger flavour and unusual reddish-purple leaves with a higher decorative impact. Mint has a clean, fresh smell and makes a lovely addition to roast lamb, Middle Eastern dishes like tabouleh, and lemonade. It’s also an essential ingredient in mojitos, and you can even try it as a garnish for desserts, as mint pairs well with chocolate and fruit flavours. Rosemary is another low-maintenance, great smelling herb that can be used in a variety of ways. It’s gorgeous with poultry – for an easy roast chicken, just cut a lemon in half and stick it inside a whole chicken with rosemary. Thyme is a richly aromatic herb. It prefers well-drained soil so do not worry about watering it too much. This low-maintenance herb is green all year round so a great investment and it goes great with eggs. Lemongrass, lavender, coriander, parsley. I like to go with the season and change throughout the year. Note that potted herbs purchased in supermarkets are likely to be harder to maintain on the long run, because they were designed for fast growth and immediate comsumption. So, if you’d like to keep herbs alive in the kitchen, head to your local nursery or market and inquire about good quality organic herbs grown in nutrient-rich soil, you will get much better results. If you are into growing your own aromatic herbs, I’ll soon write a blog about irrigated containers that are perfect to grow aromatic herbs. So stay tuned!

HOW TO CREATE A PLANT LOVING HOME A full guide for first time indoor jungle owners Want to design an urban jungle for your new home? In this complete guide, I reveal some of the latest green design ideas and tips to help you design the most fabulous urban jungle for your home. 1 URBAN JUNGLE & HOME DÉCOR IDEAS VARIETY IS KEY The essential concept behind any urban jungle is to mimic nature in its extraordinary diversity of species, sizes, forms and colors. When designing a personal urban jungle at home, variety is key, like in nature. The combination of different sizes of plants is the first step to creating your indoor jungle. For instance, purchase a giant one that goes on the floor and mix it up with some smaller ones. Try some plant stands and rope hangers to display your plants at different levels. If you just go for the same textures, like all small leaves or big leaves or prickly, your garden will look boring. MAKE IT PERSONAL Often play around with your pots. Prepare some terracotta, copper, etc. then, mix them up. Add candles and personal object close to your heart. If you have some old plant pots or teacups, they will be good materials to customize them with paint. Or, you can find some online or other vintage shops.

A MULTI-SENSORY EXPERIENCE Think about your last walk in the forest or in the jungle. Beyond the sight of trees, plants and bushes, what sounds could you hear, what scents could you smell? Recreate such memories in your home by adding a plant ASMR or nature sound playlist, or by placing fragrant specimens such as lavender, jasmine or lemongrass. Pot-pourri would do as well. Trying to please all the senses, that’s the essence of successful biophilic design and urban jungle design! GREEN LIBRARY (BEST FOR HOME OFFICE) Taking advantage of a surplus library unit at your home and fill it with various kinds of urban jungle plants is a good idea to start with. Cacti and succulent plants are our first recommendation. They’re cute and small enough to be placed anywhere – in the surplus library unit that

you’ve prepared or on the desk. Some other plants with similar benefits are Sansevieras Trifasciata, snake plants, Philodendron Cordatum, and Epipremnum Aureum. BATHROOM PLANT WALL It’s no problem if your bathroom is large or narrow, traditional or ultra-modern, a houseplant or two always create an impressive highlight. Locations like a corner rack and tabletop bathroom sink are ideal. You can also stick suction pots on the walls. It really works and the result is impressive!The bathroom is the most humid space in your house, implying an ideal tropical condition that certain plants will love. Aside from ferns and gorgeous Calathea as suggested above, you can mix it up with some other urban jungle plants, like: Chinese evergreen Peace lily Philodendrons Bamboo PLAY AROUND THE WINDOWSILLS (BEST FOR KITCHEN) Especially if your kitchen is a kitchenette. Some little plants like aloes or cacti and succulent plants are perfect for this game. You can plant them in different sizes of pots and display along your kitchen windowsills. Besides, you can make use of some excess space on your trolleys, open shelves, top of your fridge, extra worktop or dishwasher. ADD ONE BIG STATEMENT OR TWO (BEST FOR LIVING ROOM) Don’t be afraid to try one giant, big-leafed plant. You’ll be amazed by how jungle-ish (but not cluttered) this big statement transforms your living space. But if you’re considering getting an expensive large plant, do your homework before to save you some money. This blog is here to cover your back and answer your indoor plant care questions. Some recommended large plants: Alocasia Banana tree Pancake plant Ficus Lyrata Swiss cheese plant Bird of Paradise 2 URBAN JUNGLE GARDENING: ESSENTIAL TOOLS & ACCESSORIES To start and maintain an urban jungle, here are essential indoor gardening tools and accessories that you will need at some point.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Get both types of potting soil. There are two types of houseplant soils: a well-drained soil rich in sand (for cacti, succulents and the associated dry-type of houseplants), and a moister soil for most other common houseplants, especially the tropical ones. When you add soil to top-up or repot your plant, check about their preferred type of soil. Also, organic soil is the best for plants and also advised by many experts. The top list in this article is helpful if you have no idea of which brand or which product to go for. Fertilizer (a.k.a. plant food) Trays and saucers (for drainage and in order to easily water from below) Watering can Pots Self-watering pots. For the extra peace of mind, if you have too many plants, or to back you up when you’re away from home, try selfwatering plant pots. They are my key partners for the maintenance of the thirsty-type of indoor plants. EXTRAS (ALSO GOOD GIFT IDEAS) Gardening gloves Gravels of different colors for decorative topping Mini-spade and rake because they’re cute and it makes you look like a pro Mister spray PLANT PROPAGATION ACCESSORIES: Did you know you can propagate a plant cutting into many babies?! I’ve easily done this with my golden pothos (and also with an avocado seed). Many houseplants are propagation-friendly. For the budget-minded gardeners or if you are thinking of propagating your plants for the fun to watch them grow, you’ll need propagation plates, propagation tubes or even just a glass or a vase.

3 WHICH FACTORS AFFECT THE CHOICE OF NEW PLANTS? These factors have an influence on the choice of your new plants: The levels of humidity and light exposure in your house Do you have pets or children? +The amount of time you’re at home For example, if the humidity levels in your house are high, plants like ferns and oh-so-gorgeous Calatheas are amazing to grow, as they require high humidity to thrive. But most homes are on the dry side, so hardier species such as large monstera deliciosa, succulents, and cacti for example would be more suitable for beginners. These three require minimal maintenance, and would satisfy plant lovers who are not at home regularly. If you have furry friends or children, stay away from Pothos, Philodendron, and other lush plants as they are toxic to pets. You can check the list of poisonous plants here.

4 WHICH PLANTS TO START WITH? There are different types of indoor plants and they will have different effects on your interior. Start with the hardy species. This will not only save you time and money, but also help you gain more experience and boost your confidence. After several years helping indoor plant owners with their plant dramas, I’m realising that many need to be reminded that plants are not native from our human-made homes, and some do better than other when it comes to adapting to their new environment. At the same time, it feels good to know that every indoor gardener kills plants from time to time. Experimentation is part of any learning process, so, no guilt my plant friends! Once you’re more familiar with your plants’ needs, you can venture into more exotic and rarer specimens. SUCCULENTS AND CACTI Cacti and succulents are for sure the easiest indoor plants for beginners to care for. Succulents and cacti grow well on neglect and like dry soil. Don’t water them as much as the other plants. Succulents and cacti are going to be placed closer to the windows where they can capture a lot of sunlight. During the winter, you just need to keep them cool and dry. CRAWLING AND WALL-CLIMBING PLANTS Crawling and climbing plants immediately create a dramatic effect. If you place a garden trellis against the wall and let a climbing plant grow on it (like instagrammers @mamabotanica or @houseplantjournal), you’re my idol. For beginner indoor gardeners, here are some easy-to-grow vines and climbers to consider: The string of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus): a succulent plant that really loves bright light and dry environments, meaning it’s a low-maintenance creeper. With string of pearls, it’s best to grow them in a hanging basket. Creeping fig (ficus pumila): it’s praised by lots of gardeners due to the small, leathery dark green foliage which is enchanting and easily complements with other houseplants. Creeping fig is also known for vigorous growth and loves a dry environment so, don’t overwater it. Pothos (epipremnum aureum): most of the pothos varieties can grow indoors or under direct sunlight so, it’s not a headache to find a place for it around your house. Ivy: like Pothos, this plant can adapt to a wide range of light conditions and grow super-fast. It needs a wide and shallow container and prefers a spot where there is direct sunlight. If you love evergreen foliage, try this. Heartleaf Philodendron: this is one of the most popular plant to create an urban jungle indoors because of not only their jungle-ish look but also the low maintenance. In dried soil and moderate light condition, they will grow easily.

TERRARIUMS, KOKEDAMA, AND AIR PLANTS For some extra effects, you can try a few unusual plants, such as air plants, or make your own terrariums. These kinds of plant eco-systems require minimal care and don’t ask for special maintenance skills. Terrariums are usually grown inside small to medium sized glass containers and air plants are usually seen inside glass globes. Unlike what the name seems to promise, you do need to bring water to air-plants. On the other hand, kokedama can be nice and fun thing to try. Koke-dama is the name of stylish japanese mossballs. 5 URBAN JUNGLE CARE TIPS KNOW WHERE YOUR PLANT COMES FROM Knowing about your new plant’s backstory is going to help you care for them the right way. For example, never put a fern pot near windows because their favorite environment is a humid and shadow one. It’s totally opposite to succulent plants which prefer to live in dry locations. They grow easily in desert areas. WATERING The most unforgiving mistake of a beginner indoor gardener is overwatering, because the plant usually reacts to this by sacrificing older leaves at the bottom of the main stem. In practice, under watering is better than overwatering because plants don’t die in a week, but they will be immediately affected if being watered overly. So, be sure to test the soil with your finger before deciding to give it some water or not. LEARN ABOUT PLANT CARE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE Home gardening has become a trendy thing to do in urban areas for a good reason. From keeping a connection to nature to impressing our friends with stylish specimens, we like to recreate a jungly atmosphere indoors. But, if you want to keep your precious plants for a long time, it’s good to learn about plant stuff as early as possible. So, if you are considering bringing a portion of jungle into your home for the first time, here are a few essential things to know about, and garden nurseries tend not to highlight the importance of enough. Not all plants are born equal towards surviving indoors, some species are more resilient, others are more fragile. Think about the three factors below the next time you buy a plant.

In conclusion, there are many ways to design and maintain an inviting urban jungle home. Also try to be honest with yourself: depending on your lifestyle, a few plants might die, but that’s not the end of the world. It’s just an excuse to get to the garden centre again!

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE A LOT OF FUN!

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MADE WITH PLANTS

Art

Meet Makoto Azuma, the Outrageous Florist to Dries Van Noten and Man Who Launched a Bonsai Into Space

By Brooke Mazurek 62

We sat down with the Japanese florist who freezes flowers (or lights them on fire) to discuss life, death, and, of course, Donald Trump. Makoto Azuma is standing in his subterranean botanical laboratory in Aoyama trying to explain how he’s able to talk with flowers. “I listen to their voices,” Azuma explains. “Like humans, they wake up in the morning, so it’s best to handle them then.” Among the flowers in front of him: an electric blue delphinium, a blossom that looks like a hot pink pinecone, and a shrimp-colored dahlia that are placed in individual vases, spaced as precisely as handbags in a Prada boutique. Although the flowers aren’t much for banter, he says, there is a telepathic meeting of the hearts that transpires when he begins his work with the stems before sunrise. “There is a feeling that happens, not particular words,” explains the artist, who possesses the kind-hearted demeanor of Bob Ross and the aesthetic edge of Raf Simons. When a florist “has half-heartedly bundled flowers or is thoughtless with them... I feel the flowers’ sadness scream.” In many ways, he has transcended the role of a traditional florist. Since co-founding floral atelier Jardins des Fleurs in 2002 with photographer Shunsuke Shiinoki, the 40-year-old has constructed conceptually radical botanical sculptures with hundreds of thousands of flowers, which have been set aflame in caves, frozen into massive blocks of ice, and use to line the runways of designers like Dries Van Noten. There are YouTube videos where you can watch Azuma grotesquely stab flowers into glossy hunks of raw marbled meat, or simply stare at a Renoir-style tapestry of blooms as they wilt at high speed. In 2014, Azuma made international headlines when he launched a bonsai into space. His work is beautiful and bizarre and emotionally provocative, each project part of a genre he has taken to calling “living art.”

A portrait of the florist

Through both simple and violent approaches to flora, Azuma is able to communicate mono no aware, a hardto-translate Japanese concept that makes his brow furrow as he tries to explain its significance. His work, he says, represents an “attraction to things that fade,” but that the emotions tied to evanescence are two-fold: the transiency of precious things gives way to sadness, but there is also beauty in the realization that we were able to witness those things at all. His subterranean studio space in Ayoya, a chic enclave in Tokyo, has been designed to heighten both his and the flowers’ ability to emote. There

GQ Style: Your work, through its juxtapositions, often brings to mind the notion of climate change. Is that something you think about? Are you hopeful for the future? Azuma Makoto: I prefer not to say that directly—rather, I want people to come to their own awareness of flowers and plants. Instead of sending a direct message, I want people to realize it on their own. It’s in that place that’s hidden. In Japan, the environment is changing, the vegetation and the flowers are changing. Summer flowers bloom in the spring, flowers that should bloom in the winter suddenly bloom in the summer. This is really happening.

How does working and living in Tokyo influence your relationship to flora? Tokyo is the easiest place to do my work. The reason for that is that the market is very large, the quality of the flowers is very high—for us our work is very visual, yet people here are very picky about flowers. About one-third of my work is in Europe, but the flowers are most beautiful in Tokyo.

are chalkboards covered with diagrams and indecipherable equations. Every wall is concrete; every single surface, stainless steel. “When you think of a flower shop, perhaps you think of a place on a street level selling flowers,” he says. “But this is intentionally underground, this space is all about making the best possible environment for flowers.” Though he likens it to a wine cellar, the setup is more Jurassic Park-meets-Willy Wonka. A bunny named U-ko hops around the studio. Born the youngest of two children to a chef and homemaker in the countryside of Fukoka, Azuma dreamt of becoming a rock musician when he first moved to Tokyo—only that path didn’t quite pan out. “When I struggled to get by, I took a part-time job at a flower market, and that’s how it all started.” The concept of impermanence still plays a central role in all of his work. Sound, music, and flowers, he says, “are always things that people are reallyconscious of. They’re ephemeral … and I’m attracted to that.” So I asked him about the end of the world.

How did you come up with the idea to send a floral arrangement and bonsai into outer space? I wanted to take flowers and plants into an impossible environment where they could never exist. And seeing this very striking visual visualization—this juxtaposition—really makes you think. This incredible project was all done in this cheap-looking space, and it has the massive effect of people getting more interested in and more deeply aware of flowers. For me, this is a very important project. People who were never interested in flowers before will now see this and become interested. Is there a flower that fascinates you the most? Recently I’ve been really into sprouting bulbs. [They have] such a grotesque shape beyond words, and yet they bloom so beautifully. That incongruity produces gorgeous flowers. The thing with flowers is that they are always changing every day. A day for a flower is ten years for a human. It’s a way to look at life. No matter how much I look at a flower, I never get tired of it.

Is there a flower that you think is overrated? Roses, and the like. But the thing with roses is that because of human intervention, genetic modification, they become exactly what humans want them to be. But I don’t really like that so much—it’s not so interesting to me. Flowers reflect the places they are from. They have connections to places for example, having different colors depending on where they grow. There is absolutely meaning in the fact that a flower from a certain place smells a certain way. Of course, it’s important to have familiarity, and it’s important as a product for sale, but I don’t think it’s good to do too much of that. What flower you would recommend a guy give a loved one as a gift? Well, generally you would say a rose, right? That’s the standard answer. But for me, I think that maybe a seasonal flower would be good. Summer flowers in the summer, winter flowers in the winter. I think it would be a good idea to change the flower you give based on that situation. Of course, people are happy to receive flowers, but the flower fades away. Seasonal flowers are at its freshest right at that moment—the scent reminds you of the season, and reminds you of how happy you felt to receive it. It becomes a memory. It comes from the season, and then reminds you of that season. Seasonal flowers generally have a scent, and that scent carries memory. That kind of story is very deep. I named my daughter Sumire [which means “violet”]. She was born in February. In the season of violets, I gave her that name. That holds deep meaning for me. So roses are one thing, but seasonal flowers are best.

In September, you created ice blocks filled with elaborate flowers for the Dries Van Noten Spring-Summer '17 show. How did the two of you meet? I have a lot of opportunities to work in Paris, and he loves flowers. He has a very large garden, and a great interest in flowers. He found me, and said he would like to work with me. Now he’s a friend. I really respect his creativity, and we have a great relationship. He’s just like me in the

sense that flowers are not just beautiful to him—he looks at the whole picture, as they wilt, as they bloom. He sees the beauty in all of it. Do you have any advice for those who don’t have a green thumb? Flowers are living things. So you have to treat them properly. Open your heart to them. In Japan, in ikebana [the Japanese art of flower arranging, or the “way of flowers”] they say you listen to the voice of the flower, so to speak. It’s important to live as such. The point is not to see flowers as objects, but as living things. Listen to the plant’s voice. Be conscious of it.

Should they start talking to their flowers? There was actually research on that subject in the 1970s. And in fact, they found it to have an effect, especially researching how the plants develop their roots. I’m not a scientist, but as someone who always works with flowers, I believe that to be true. I think it has an effect. I’ve seen that flowers I’ve worked with more intimately have stayed fresh longer. If you were to send President Trump a flower, which would it be? Tulips would be good. A red tulip. In the language of flowers, it represents compassion. I’d send him about a thousand red tulips. He needs compassion. He really ought to give flowers a try. I think his attitude toward a lot of things would probably change. Of course, I understand “money is money” and all that, but when working with flowers, it enriches your heart, it enriches a person. I think it would be very valuable for him to think about living things. He’s already 70, though. Maybe it’ll be the end for him soon.

Art

Why are artists so obsessed with plants

Taken from SLEEK 50 By Will Furtado 66

Installation view of "A Reflected Landscape," 2016 at BB9; courtesy Timur Si-Qin; Société, Berlin; Studio Ramos; photo: Timo Ohler

One of the recurring thoughts we had at the 9th Berlin Biennale is that the representation of plants in art is alive and well. Here we look at the history of plants in art and the provocative symbolism in shrubbery.

Plants are people, too Plants and humans, they’re polar opposites, right? Think again. According to a 2015 study by Monica Gagliano at the University of Western Australia, not only do flowers, trees, fruits and vegetables talk to one another, they also have memories. And while science may have only recently come around to the idea that plants are sentient beings, in art they’ve always been something more than passive objects, having the ability to both corrupt and empower. In the origins of Western thought, nature is by turns the embodiment of good as well as the epitome evil. In Ovid’s telling of humanity’s golden age, the Earth was an abundant source of nourishment and pleasure, while in Christianity, a snake that tempts Adam into eating a forbidden apple precipitates the fall in the Garden of Eden. Indeed, both of these themes became major preoccupations for Renaissance painters such as Hieronymus Bosch, who depicted the world as a playground of virtue and sin in “The Garden of Earthly Delights”.

Maya Rochat, Cactus Trip, 2014. Image from the artist

Flora versus fauna Botanical symbolism took a different turn during the industrial revolution. Religious references were discarded in favour of images of plants and animals as savage entities. In the 19th century a binary began to emerge, whereby human culture was characterised as a civilising force, while flora and fauna were frequently presented as wild, degenerative and untameable. One instance of this is the post-Impressionist painter Henri Rousseau’s “Le lion, ayant faim, se jette sur l’antilope” (“The Hungry Lion Attacking An Antelope”). Here, it is not only the ensuing violence that is meant to horrify, but also the indifference of the surrounding forest. Later in the 20th century, vegetation became an emblem of subversion, as in 1974’s “Un Jardin d’Hiver II” (“Winter Garden II”) by Marcel Broodthaers. True to form, Broodthaers pulled the press’s leg by claiming that the foliage installation wasn’t art but merely ‘décor’. Similarly, in 2014, Rashid Johnson further disrupted the opposition between nature and culture with “Plateaus”, a sculpture made from shrubs, cacti, ceramics, metal and wood. Through his juxtaposition of materials, Johnson invokes colonial ideas about supposedly civilised and primitive societies, and his work therefore functions as an exploration of black identity and a scathing assessment of empire.

Pascual Sisto, Installation View: En Plain Air, 2015. Image from Brand New Gallery

Turning a new leaf At Frieze Projects 2015, Thea Djordjadze continued the recent tradition of using greenery as a form of institutional critique when she presented a collection of Monstera deliciosa – the plants that inspired Henri Matisse’s cut-outs – as a way of highlighting the transient nature of art fairs. At last year’s Venice Biennale, Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s strolling anthropomorphic pine trees took aim at the stunted concentration span of modern gallery goers. And in “Is it possible to be a revolutionary and like flowers?” (2012), Camille Henrot transforms the books from an entire library into flower arrangements – a comment on contemporary culture’s anxiety about language and art as ‘public’ institutions. To be sure, the boom of plants in art has been influenced by changing social values, too. As Earth enters an environmentally precarious age, we’re encouraged to go green, buy clothes made from sustainable fabrics and eat organic food. Consequently, artists have been responding to these urgent calls for conscientious consumption. For example, Sara Cwynar’s 2014 photo installation, “Encyclopedia Grid (Banana)”, acts as reminder of the destruction of the rainforest caused by the banana trade. After years of apathy, artists are embracing ethics, and the plant has once more become a universal signifier of everything that’s good. It’s not a far cry from Ovid’s golden age, and today, what was once a radical stance risks becoming conformist. But as history has proven, the power of references to plants in art is that they defy simple categorisation – and in doing so they help us question the changing nature of human culture.

Céleste Boursier-Mougenot, Rêvolutions, 2015 and Rashid Johnson, Plateaus, 2014. Images from VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn and David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles

Art

Philodendron Xanad

By Ruben Bellinkx 70

The lush green leaves of a living philodendron plant seem to have pierced right through a wall in a confounding installation by Belgiumbased artist Ruben Bellinkx. The leaves, as you can see, are much too large and seemingly undamaged to have been forced through small holes in the walls â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so howâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d he do it? Quite simply, the artist rebuilt that section of the wall from scratch, cutting careful slits following the contours of the leaves with a jigsaw.

Art

Marc Quinnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flower sculptures

Overview: In the frozen flower sculptures, which range from single works to the large-scale, walk-through installation Garden (2000), Quinn captures what he has described as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the purest and most magical transformation of reality into artâ&#x20AC;?. In these sculptures, real flowers in a perfect state of bloom have been plunged into frozen silicone oil. As the flowers freeze they die, but in doing so, they become a perfect, eternal image of themselves. Garden was commissioned by Fondazione Prada. In this large-scale installation, thousands of different types of flowers and plants were accumulated together in an architectural,

walk-through structure. Since many of the species would never grow together or bloom at the same time, Garden represents a fantastical, almost mythical landscape which also comments on the driving force of human desire, attempting to shape and control the natural world around us. Taking this notion as a starting point, Quinn has also used the forms of orchids repeatedly in his sculptures, as readymade forms in large-scale bronze works, or collaged together in The Nurseries of El Dorado series. In these small scale bronze sculptures, hybrid plants are created using elements taken from different plants which are carefully pieced together and cast in bronze.

Fashion

Desserto

By Nicole Axworthy 78

TWO GUYS IN MEXICO JUST CREATED VEGAN LEATHER FROM CACTUS New vegan material Desserto has the potential to replace the use of animal leather in the fashion, leather goods, furniture, and automotive industries. Mexican entrepreneurs Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez recently debuted Desserto, the first organic leather made entirely from the nopal (or prickly-pear) cactus. The entrepreneurs’ aim was to create a sustainable, cruelty-free alternative to animal leather. The material is partially biodegradable and has the technical specifications required by the fashion, leather goods, furniture, and automotive industries. Thanks to its flexibility, breathability, and durability of at least 10 years, the cactus leather has the ability to replace the use of animal leather and synthetic materials that are not environmentally friendly. López Velarde and Cázarez quit their jobs to focus on developing Desserto, also known as cactus or nopal vegan leather. “After two years of research and development, we managed to produce a suitable material that complies with the features and technical/mechanical specifications required by those industries that use animal or synthetic leather,” López Velarde told media outlet Fashion United. “Also, thanks to its organic composition, it is breathable, which makes cactus or nopal vegan leather similar to animal leather.” The creators showcased Desserto last month at the International Leather Fair Lineapelle in Milan, Italy and are already working with major groups in different industries for potential applications. In recent years, brands have been creating new forms of vegan leather made from plants such as pineapple and olives. Earlier this year, fashion retailer H&M debuted a vegan jacket made from pineapple leather. And last year, Hugo Boss debuted vegan sneakers made from pineapple leather and German footwear brand thies launched a line of shoes made from olive leather.

Fashion

Nicole Dextras creates ‘Weedrobes’: beautiful dresses out of plants and flowers By David Moye 80

When you take a walk down the street and see a pile of leaves all bundled up, you probably see just a bunch of trash, but Nicole Dextras might see a “Weedrobe.” Dextras is an artist in Vancouver, B.C., who is showing that leftover leaves and plants can be a fertile ground for the imagination. For the past six years, she has taken the native plants of the Pacific Northwest and turned them into elaborate dresses she calls “Weedrobes.” The dresses are beautiful, but Dextras has more than a pretty picture in mind. Her plant-based apparel is designed to confront important environmental concerns. “I’ve had an ongoing interest in environmental art, and working in the theater as a clothes designer opened me up to the idea that the way people dress affects their psychology,” Dextras told AOL Weird News. “I want these dresses to open a dialogue to people about where their clothes come from.” Each outfit takes four steps: First, Dextras constructs the dresses out of renewable plant materials. Then she photographs the green garment being worn in a landscaped urban setting to emphasize the impact of humans on the area. Next, she has her dress model interact with spectators. “I have her ask people questions about the labels they are wearing,” Dextras said. Finally, Dextras installs the garment in a garden or park so it can decompose over time. “This is very important,” she said. “I grew up in Ontario and the passage of seasons is ingrained in me. It’s so important to me that I dedicated myself to ephemeral materials.” Dextras first decided to branch out into this field of art one day while walking around Vancouver.

“A neighbor of mine had cut down some laurel leaves and bundled them and I thought it would be nice to do something with them,” she said. That inspired her first dress, and, since then, she tries to do others whenever time and weather permit. “I can only do them in season, and the growing season is short up here,” Dextras said. “I hope to do a lot of them this year.” The outfits are not exactly made for lounging around the house. “They are very restrictive,” Dextras admitted. “I have to make them in parts. But I am trying to make them easier to wear.” She has learned some lessons since making her first outfits. “My first dress looked good on the mannequin, but wasn’t strong enough to actually wear,” she said. “Now, I make a structure underneath, such as with thorns or willow branches.” Although Dextras’ work is meant to promote the use of more natural materials in clothes, she admits adapting her designs for everyday wear won’t be practical. “For instance, cabbage leaves are uncomfortable and they wilt,” she said. It takes a special model to wear one of Dextras’ outfits, not only because they can be cumbersome, but also because the model is expected to engage spectators in conversation. Dextras has used a few in the six years of doing Weedrobes, but believes she’s found a true collaborator in Nita Bowerman. “She’s willing to take on a persona and she enjoys wearing them,” Dextras said. The love fest is mutual, according to Bowerman. “I would say that the primary difference between Nicole’s Weedrobes and other outfits is the sensory experience,” Bowerman said. “Imagine a coat made

of lilacs, how rich and fragrant the aroma. And rubbing your cheek against the collar, a massage of soft petals and nectar. [The outfits] engage the imagination and they also activate the body.” Bowerman says putting on one dress required her to crawl, not jump, through two hoops in the back of the skirt and dive up through the waist with her hands over her head. Not that she minded. “It made physical the concept Nicole described to me about where this self-sustainable dress could go,” she said. “Imagine, this sculptured skirt as garden and also as a tent, a place with food and shelter that you can bring with you.” Although Dextras has attracted international attention for her works, the temporary nature of her work has kept it based in Vancouver. However, she is excited about doing similar works in other cities around the world. And while she is getting acclaim for her work in environmental art, she is not the only artist working in this genre. “This is actually happening in Europe more than in Canada or the U.S.,” Dextras said. Still, she said, “there are less than a dozen people doing what I do and I think some are more concerned with getting a lot of hits on the Internet than really doing art.” Not that Dextras doesn’t have concerns about her own work. “I do worry sometimes that I make the dresses too beautiful and people just think they are cute,” she said.

Interior design

Sera Hersham Loftus, The Plants at Seraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, London

Your name: Sera Hersham Loftus Occupation: I’m an interior and set designer Where you live: London Number of plants you own: 50 How long you have been into plants and how did you get introduced: I‘ve always been into plants. I’ve never not had plants in my home or in the designs for my clients. Where are your plants located in your home? In all corners of the rooms and I hang trailing ivies from curtain rails. Name any benefits you get from your plants: I get the benefits of having life in my rooms. It adds romance and I feel like I’m living in a tropical island. At night the shadows of the leaves create dramatic shadows on the ceilings as I back light them. What kind of plants do you like most? I especially like Kentia palms and big ferns which are all yearly. But I add other plants that are in season to spice up the groupings. Can you share one mistake you made as a gardener? I’m an indoor gardener. And my mistakes include leaving plants inside for too long. I have learned that I must put them outside on my balconies from time to time. If you could only keep one plant, which one would it be? The Kentias Best advice you can give about any aspect in taking care of plants: Keep them moist at all times, unless they are cactus Where can we find more of you and your plants? www.seraoflondon.com and instagram @seraoflondon.

Architecture

By Kate Reggev

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a jungle inside this wild apartment just outside Mumbai

This sculptural, plant-filled apartment blows our minds. Just wait until you see the bathroom. Nitin Barchha and Disney Davis of the architecture firm The White Room are known for designing organic, curvaceous homes and private gardens. They were approached by a couple seeking to renovate their onebedroom apartment in the charming suburb of Pali Hill, just outside the bustling city of Mumbai. The lush spaces of the Garden Room incorporate plants and organic forms. The apartmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s windows and doors feature curved and irregular apertures.

Barchha and Davisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resulting design is marked by organic, sculptural forms that mimic the curves and undulating shapes found in nature. Door and window openings are curved and asymmetrical; continuous curves form light fixtures, furniture, and even shelving. The White Room created a grotto-like outdoor space with fountains and lush greenery. The walls are bright white, contrasting with the bold green of the plants and vines that hang throughout the indoor and outdoor spaces. The White Room used natural materials like moss and stone to create texture and give the apartment an otherworldly feeling.

Mosaic tile climbs partway up the walls in the bedroom, and it completely covers the serpentine curves of the bathroom. The turquoise tile is reminiscent of Antoni Gaudi’s mosaics, and it gives the bathroom a glamorous yet inviting feeling. Hanging and potted plants and a moss floor strike contrast with the apartment’s white walls. Openings along the back wall of the bedroom provide glimpses of the tiled bathroom. Built-in storage in the bedroom follows the undulating form of the apartment’s walls. The white walls have an almost Mediterranean vibe to them, but they’re distinct in their irregularity.

Book review:

THE NEW PLANT PARENT Develop your green thumb and care for your house-plant family.

Style: a scientific approach to plant care Focus: everything you need to know about indoor plant care Specificity: contains a houseplant journal on tropical plants By Darryl Cheng, 2019

PEOPLE VIEWS “Finally a modern book focusing on houseplant care!” “This book is like a training program to make you a better plant parent.” “It’s made for plant owners who want to up their game and finally understand their houseplants.”

BOOK SUMMARY In this well-illustrated book, you will be taken on an indepth journey through the vegetal universe. You’ll learn both the big picture and the details of house plant care in urban homes, from the nursery stage up to a healthy maturity in your home. With great accuracy and logic, the author, a plant expert with an engineering background, delivers a ton of useful plant care advice and methodology to keep your plants healthy. A gold mine of knowledge that he accumulated over the years, thanks to research and experimentation. A remarkable modern book for everyone to become a better house plant parent! WHAT I REALLY LIKED I really liked that the book is full of insightful photographs and beautiful illustrations, making it easy to understand the concepts and avoid typical mistakes. WHAT I LEARNED So many useful things! I use guidance from the book now every time I buy a new plant and it seems to be working pretty well in my flat in London. For example, I learned that every plant has to go through an adjustment period after you bring it home from the nursery. During this period, the plant might drop a few leaves, but it’s just temporary as the conditions in our homes deviate substantially from the ideal conditions set in garden nurseries. The “aha” moment for me was on the chapter dedicated to choosing the right spot for your plant, where we are encouraged to think about how much light the plant will “see” in this corner and choose a plant accordingly. As you double the distance from the window, the light intensity decreases drastically, which can be a problem for most plants. So, when it comes to choosing a spot for your plant to have a happy life, the light should come before the style basically.

SPECIFIC ADVICE FOR TROPICAL PLANTS As Darry Cheng reveals in the book, he’s got a thing for tropical plants. So, if you have tropical houseplants, this book is for you. Many common and rarer indoor plants from the tropical type are covered in detail in the book, from a care point of view.

Plants parents owning the following specimens will be delighted: • dracaena, jade plant, kangaroo paw fern, • money tree, monstera, oxalis, • philodendron, prayer plant, pilea, • ponytail palm, & more…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR If you read this blog you may recognize the author, Darryl Cheng, who is the one behind the famous @ HousePlantJournal account on Instagram. Now an author, he has been helping people with houseplants countless times on his profile, sharing his house plant experiments on a day to day basis. If you haven’t checked his account yet, I highly recommend it. You’ll find particularly amazing time-lapse videos with plants performing a “dance” with their leaves. Isn’t nature beautiful?

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KATE AINSLEY In the year 2019, I finally found an apartment with a big window. I lived alone, with no pets. This was a perfect arrangement, one that allowed me to cultivate a lifelong desire: to live among a ridiculous number of houseplants. As a child in rural North Carolina, I spent my time in the woods with a field guide. The soil of the Sandhills ecosystem prevented many of my motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gardening attempts, so my plant interest was pursued entirely in the wild. Even today, my escapist fantasies involve going back to school, becoming a botanist, and living the remainder of my life in a cabin in the North Carolina mountains. There I spent my spare time learning how to do pottery. Now, in my new apartment, I kept a little space as my laboratory to create my own plantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; vases.

THE TEAM Art director Emilia Taylor Graduated at IED Milano in 2016, Emilia arrived out of the blue, as a special surprise, and is now one of the fundamental columns of our amazing team! Favourite plat: Chinese Evergreen Zodiac sign: Pisces Graphic designer Rick Martinucci We have got a problem, he always has a solution! From Saint Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, London, Rick has been nominated our private and secret magician. Favourite plat: Fiddle Leaf Fig Zodiac sign: Aries Copy and picture editor Monique Bertrand Our french pearl. She loves the job she does and is always there to help you with a smile or a cupcake! Ray of sun! Favourite plat: Yucca Zodiac sign: Libra Illustrator Bianca De Carli 100% Italian flavour. Always the first arriving at work and the last to go away (and she goes just because the studio has to close!) Favourite plat: Air Plant Zodiac sign: Capricorn

Production manager Jackson Rodriguez The most precise man on earth. He can take care of the global situation of the team also when we go completely insane. He is one od Favourite plat: Peperomia Zodiac sign: Aries

Adidas Recycled Shoes is eco-friendly with upper body formed of plastic materials from the ocean and the mid-sole 3D printed out of recycled polyester.

LOOK GOOD ON YOUR WAY TO WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEXT.

RECASHMERE SWEATERS ARE MADE FROM OLD JUMPERS

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