Living Tapestry: Design Your Own Vertical Garden

While we love the concept of a vertical garden, which of course is perfect for small outdoor spaces, we haven't really come across a good, workable DIY method that doesn't require super-landscaper or construction skills. The Living Tapestry, from the aptly named East Bay company Vertical Gardens, is a potentially interesting solution, with technology that allows you to design the garden yourself, popping four-inch plants right into pockets in the wall. In the photo above you can see the curtain itself, but we can imagine how once the plants grew in, the black backdrop would disappear. Details after the jump...

The Living Tapestry's design is based on hydroponic technology. The wall consists of what the company calls a "geo-textile laminated curtain." Huh? Sounds complicated, but basically the curtain, which contains pockets for your plants, absorbs water and fertilizers from a series of internal irrigation pipes. Excess drains into a reservoir and gets pumped back into the curtain, recycling the water back through the system.

The web site insists that the Tapestry is lightweight, efficient, and easy to put together (no tools required—all the pipes and so on just snap into place). And the best part is that you can plot your own design, inserting the plants you've chosen in whatever pattern you desire. A built-in timer can control the watering schedule according to the needs of your plants. For more details, visit the Living Tapestry web site.

Pretty cool idea—has anyone seen one of these in person? How would you design your Tapestry?

(Images: Vertical Gardens)

Comments (10)

How much does it cost? It says "Call for a quote" on the website.

posted by ochoa on July 21st 2009 at 8:54pm
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Seems like a nice thing for an indoor space as well. A bedroom or a living room, perhaps.

posted by medusa12120 on July 21st 2009 at 9:03pm
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My university campus had a four-story plant wall biofilter: http://green.curiouspictures.com/?p=353

posted by Andrew Kaszowski on July 22nd 2009 at 8:26am
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There are so many Torontonians on here, why don't we have our own AT section?!!?

posted by Stephanie K on July 22nd 2009 at 12:53pm
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I'd like to know how much they cost as well! I've loved this idea for a while now and would like to integrate it into my patio design.

posted by canadian in swedish clothing on July 22nd 2009 at 6:01pm
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Ever since I saw Patrick Blanc's vertical gardens in Paris (Musee Quai Branley, free access to the garden), I've just fallen in love with the idea of vertical gardens.

However, the price of ready-built constructions is pretty steep (forgive the pun). I'm no fan of DIY either, but I am planning to build one for my balcony, where vertical gardening is really a great solution to add some green to my environment.

I was thinking of using an old pallet, adding some vertical slats to it creating slots where the plants would fit in. Bit like a bookcase really, I don't mind seeing the wood peak through.
And also, to keep the earth in, the black geo-textile sold in garden centers. For the watering system I'm thinking of getting some of those watering systems, also from the garden center and see if I can find the right configuration.

If I succeed I will post the instructions online and leet you know. It'll be a winter project, so be patient and wish me luck! :)

posted by EvaInNL on July 23rd 2009 at 3:25am
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According to the website, a 2x8 foot installation starts at $700. Lovely, but eeek!

posted by laura in la on July 23rd 2009 at 11:35pm
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A local nursery, Flora Grubb, does amazing vertical succulent gardens that were on display at the Sunset Design House. I have a few photos of this gorgeous vertical garden here: http://urbansardines.wordpress.com/2009/06/09/modern-cottage-at-sunset-magazine/

posted by Urban Sardines on July 25th 2009 at 7:07pm
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Check out www.absolutebodo.com and click on 'Projects', 'DIY', and 'Wall Flower' for an inexpensive vertical garden perfect for small outdoor footprints which can be created for under $50.00. Also click on 'How-to-Videos' and 'CityTV Appearances' for a quick summary of the project.

posted by absolutebodo on July 26th 2009 at 10:40am
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I saw Vertical Gardens latest garden at a garden show in San Francisco. It's a waterfall vertical garden and it is amazing ... just beautiful .. a whole new genre. I think it is on their website now: check out http://www.vertical-gardens.net

Cheers,
CindyC

posted by CindyC on October 7th 2009 at 10:59am
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