Looking for last minute Mother’s Day ideas? Look no further than The Hort on Pinterest! We’ve gathered some great horticulture-themed ideas for DIY, healthy recipes, and gifts that are perfect for any mom.
#garden markers
#garden design
#creative
#DIY
Plant thrive with ‘words’ of encouragement from each other
Plants already communicate via chemicals, but it appears that an ‘unknown mechanism’ may allow them to also use sounds.
Smarty plants.
Sustainable Cities, a panel discussion about the multifunctionality of urban farms as hubs of production, social interaction, education and diversity, is just one of many exciting events to look forward to at this year’s Urban Agriculture Conference from May 15 – 17.
Rose Brook had the pleasure to meet and interview panelist Marie Dehaene. Born in Tours, France and living in Paris, Marie started her career as a landscape architect and has travelled extensively around the world to consult the city government of Paris about sustainable urban agriculture.
She will be jetting off again this summer in North America, working with international cross-disciplinary teams based in Montreal, Chicago and Paris for a research project detailed on French language website roofscape.org. Marie is also working on publishing a book about urban agriculture to be written in French.
What was it about urban agriculture that interested you initially?
People ask, “Why are you doing that?” Actually, it’s normal to me. I couldn’t choose between horticulture and landscape architecture. Growing things as well. I love food, giving importance to food and maybe changing the system. Everything I like, I can find in urban ag.
You have to deal with many things — social projects, environmental projects. You get to work with a lot of people from different backgrounds. The project in the South Bronx is going to be really different from a hip one in Williamsburg. That’s what I like. You don’t get bored.
Maya Lin’s work is subtle, elegant, and thought-provoking. It harmoniously balances the power of visual arts with environmental advocacy. Just as urban city-dwellers’ relationships with nature continue to grow and change, Lin’s installations and sculptural work have evolved to reflect the changes in our environment and how we adapt.
Her upcoming show at Pace gallery explores the environment of post-Sandy New York City—something we have a strong interest in—a major focus of our most recent exhibition Currents in Green Infrastructure: Designs for a Sustainable New York City.
In addition to her site-specific and environment-based installations, Lin has recently started the What is Missing? Foundation, which uses eco-art as a lens with which to consider the rapidly increasing number of endangered plant and animal species all over the world. The website is a work of art in itself and is worth taking time out of the busy workday to explore.
Read this great article from the Times for more information about her current show and some insight into the ideas behind her work.
The best trees for urban (and suburban) yards
The world needs more trees. Here are recommended varieties for planting.
We suggest celebrating Arbor Day all weekend long. Start by reading this great guide for planting trees in your city.
Some very interesting history for Earth Day
From our friends at PBS This Day In History — the first Earth Day.
April 22, 1970: Earth Day is Created
On this day in 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson accomplished his goal of creating Earth Day, a day dedicated to increasing awareness of environmental issues.
During the first Earth Day, Senator Nelson spoke to the Denver public and said:
“Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human being and all living creatures.”
Today, the American public will perform an array of actions to help our environment, whether it’s through cleaning up local neighborhoods or promoting environmental protection.
Celebrate Earth Day with this exclusive PBS’ Our Planet collection!
Image: Cleanup Along Bank of Chattahoochee River, 1972 (National Archives).
Happy Earth Day! We love this nature-inspired installation by Julie Farris and Sarah Wayland-Smith from 2009—a welcome spot of reflection amid the bustling city. How are you celebrating Earth Day today?
In anticipation of Earth Day (tomorrow!), we’ve been sharing some of our exhibitions that have drawn inspiration from and incorporated nature. Pictured: Julie Farris and Sarah Wayland-Smith, A Clearing in the Streets, 2009
Time to start planning/building your outdoor gardens. What kinds of gardens are you planning for this year? Container or windowsill gardens? Raised beds like this community garden?
Tugelatuin
A community garden in Amsterdam with fantastic raised beds all around. These are sectioned off and each child is given a square to tend. Too awesome.
Former men’s room of what used to be an elementary school in Detroit; the Catherine Ferguson Academy, a charter high school for young mothers and pregnant teens, now calls the historic building home.
The property’s grounds feature a four-acre urban farm, which helps teach students about gardening, and enhances their skills sets.
The school, which allows students to “attend classes and care for their babies in a single environment,” was slated to be closed in 2011. Thanks to community members who rallied in support of the school, the school remains open today. Almost all the school’s graduates enroll in two- or four-year colleges.
Via The Unreal Estate Guide to Detroit: Places: Design Observer. Photograph by Andrew Herscher.
Really smart idea that looks good, too.
