Green Roofs/Vertical Gardens

Patrick Blanc: Vertical Gardens Update

Blanc Garden Drew Fall 2011 Photo © Alice Joyce

Since its installation in April, the expansive Drew School vertical garden has filled out beautifully. Gracing the new Sam Cuddeback Assembly Wing with California native species, the garden merited a “Wow… wow!” from its designer, artist/botanist Patrick Blanc, the inventor of the Green Wall as we have come to know it. An exciting revelation in Patrick’s talk: The world-class botanist specializing in tropical flora has had a new plant named for him. Patrick discovered Begonia blancii in Palawan, in the Philippine Islands.

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Culinary Gardens

Green Roofs Thrive in Eco-Friendly Portland

Portland Central Library  Roof View Photo @ Alice Joyce

Portland is on top of the Green Scene. Visitors to ‘PDX’ (that’s how most Portlanders refer to their city) discover eco-roofs on public and private buildings, alike. Wildflowers and organic veggies are cultivated on the Multnomah County Building. The city’s Central Library features a beautiful green roof planted with 17,000 succulents and grasses. And one of the city’s top wine bars, Noble Rot has its own culinary garden atop the 4th floor of a LEED platinum certified building.

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