Living Art - Baltimore's "Green Wall"

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It's March and Spring is in the air -- well it should be at least. The snow keeps falling outside, and it is hard to look ahead to warmer weather and design possibilities. We have all become indoor people, we spend on average about 90% or our time inside buildings (home or work) or cars- especially in the winter. It is well known that when we interact with nature, we are happier and healthier. Nature is so important to us, but we tend to spend the bulk of our time in the built environment.

I was in downtown Baltimore this past weekend and came across this Green Wall. It is a piece of Living Art that is also acting as advertising for the building. It was really something unexpected, something alive in a concrete environment. I did some research and this wall consists of different plants such as ferns, sedium, carex variegated, and heuchera. The wall will change with the seasons as some plants will change color in the winter or bloom in the spring.

This Living Art installation is an example of Biophilic design. Biophilic design seeks to connect our inherent need to affiliate with nature in the modern built environment. The emphasis is on intentional features that come from nature, so it goes beyond having a park or plants. It is incorporating nature into design so that the end result is seamless. This built environment meets the natural environment in a harmonious fashion.

It is really easy to take the concept of the green wall in Baltimore and incorporate it into your space. You can easily create living art by using certain plants in a vertical installation.

Framed Moss Art:   In the first picture, the main plant used is moss. Moss grows in clumps or mats making it perfect to be used as art. The moss is paired with some ferns, giving a bit of different texture. Moss can be found in several different shades of green, as well as a variety of textures. Using different types creates a visually interesting piece.

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Moss Graffiti:  Graffiti is often associated with negative images related to property damage, however moss graffiti is eco-friendly street art. Artists use bio-degradable ingredients to write messages, create art or enhance architecture.

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Succulent Picture Frame:  The variety of shapes, sizes, texture and color in succulents make them the perfect for the creative individual. These plants also grow slowly and need very little water, making them perfect for use in a vertical garden frame. You can create these by using a shadow box type frame and a little imagination. Follow this link for a how to: https://www.bhg.com/gardening/container/plans-ideas/make-a-living-succulent-picture/#page=1

As always - Happy Decorating and have a great month!