MilkWeed: Plant Porn
For those of you who fancy yourself a card-carrying plant nerd (or aspire to be one), allow me to sing the praises of some truly geek-worthy modern varieties.
Posts Tagged ‘MilkWeed’
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MilkWeed: Tilly Tribute
Prior to 1974, the US had never seen the likes of a Tillandsia air plant. These fascinating sea-like creatures are all the rage these days and as I design another tilly wedding this week (insert squeals of delight here), I am convinced I will never tire of their magic. Brought here from South America by Paul Isley of Rainforest Flora in a series of rather daunting and dangerous efforts , he and his team supply plant nerds the world over with over 10,000 tillies a week. These soil-less epiphytes take any where from 6 to 20 years to mature from seed and with all the rare hybrids and cultivars, they have become a plant collector’s dream. At once trippy and elegant, tillies can be used as living art with relatively low-maintenance, though do read up on your particular variety as they range in their watering and natural light needs (desert-dwellers beware, Floridians & Pac-North Westerners rejoice). Here are some of my favorite ways to see tillies used.
These hanging air plant pods by Michael McDowell were designed to drain plants after hydrating; preventing them from sitting in water, which they hate. Simultaneously prehistoric and futuristic, tillies can also be strung en masse on fishing line to create room screens and living chandeliers, hey hey!
MilkWeed: Don’t Forget Your Greens
Editor’s note: Please welcome our newest contributor, Britton Neubacher of Tend. She is “a social justice activist turned certified plant geek.” Her monthly column, MilkWeed, will focus on how to incorporate modern plants in and around your home, garden trends and more. Learn more about Britton on our About page.
Photo: Eames (Gloria Koenig; 2005)
Ever walk into one of those places where everything is perfect; the architecture, the furniture, the art, even the resident dog looks manufactured for this space…but something is clearly, eerily missing? You can’t quite put your finger on it but it’s almost like a pulse is absent, some palpable expression of life. It’s beautiful but not inviting. It’s cold. You want to look but not touch nor kick your shoes off and cozy in? This, my friends, is what I refer to as the architectural undead. Where everything acts alive but does not have a heartbeat or lungs to breathe. Well, I’m tired of modern design bring associated with the cold and austere. Mid-century modern understood the need for green (thus my liberal use of vintage interior design pix — so yummy!). Contemporary modern design not so much (as proven by my exhaustive search for current day plantscaping examples ending in a return to said good ol’ days). I say we unearth those wise roots, roll up the sleeves and invite a little friendly dirt in. Together we will be the plantscaper-capers fearlessly bringing life back into the spaces that are inhabited but do not breathe!
