Green design solutions - moss carpets

Living green design solutions are fresh and inspiring. More and more architects and designers show their extraordinary imagination in designing green interiors.

I love especially the below one, designed by Makoto Azuma, Japan-based flower artist, who has created a moss carpet system that can flow through your home in any design you wish, creating a living, breathing textile The carpet is exquisite and it can easily turn any house into a unique and nice place to live in.

It was presented on Milan Furniture Show.

Photos by China Blue

Photo by Tree Village
This is beautiful example how to change your lawn, which will look miserable anyway in shady area, into stylish nook. 

Photo by Lars Plougmann

Amazing green design solution! But how to get rid of the small critters living naturally there?

Hyacinths forcing easier than I thought, but I need to master the art of forcing

Forcing hyacints at home is easier than I thought.
If you want to do it, start it 2-3 months before you'd like to get the flowers.

You can start them from mid-September to December. Bulbs need the cold treatment 10 to 13 weeks before planting. So, it sums up to approx. 3-4 months you should start the procedure before expected blooms.

For flowering in late December, you should start planting mid-September, for February flowering, mid-October, and for March and April, mid-November.

Cold treatment is the key
After you are done with planting, water the pots thoroughly and place them in cold at 35⁰F/1⁰C to 45⁰F/4⁰C.
They should be kept moist throughout the rooting and cooling period. After 5 to 6 weeks, roots should grow out of the holes of the containers. The shoots will emerge from the bulbs.
Longer cold treatment will give you taller flowers, shorter will give smaller plants and sometimes no flowers at all.

Forcing
After bringing the bulbs home, place them in a 60⁰F/15⁰C temp., in direct sunlight. It will take 2 to 3 weeks to flower. After the flowers begin to open, take the plants out of direct sunlight to make the flowers lasting longer. There is no need fertilize it.

Spring flowering bulbs that have been forced indoors are usually of little value for outdoor plantings. After flowering forced hyacinths bulbs can be placed outdoors as soon as spring arrives. Many of them will flower in the garden. Maybe not next spring, but after 2 years.

Looking at my hyacints - conclusion is clear. White bulbs didn't get enough cold treatment.

This is how they looked 3 weeks ago.

Photo above is taken this morning, which is actually less than 2 months after planting.


ATTENTION: Hyacinths contain oxalic acid which can cause skin irritation. Before planting hyacinths, they advised to wet the bulbs and wear gloves.

Recycled green products new year inspiration

I look and admire the creativity of its creators. Parts that usually go to trash can get new life and not quite look trashy! New life as lamps, tables, stools, pillows...

Few years ago somebody got a great idea and decided to organize one day trade exhibition, where you can see and shop recycled green products which are the result of human creative minds.

Going to such exhibition is great way to find new products and get away from commercial offer – I am really fed up with shops stuffed with all same products manufactured in Asia.

I am more and more searching for new interesting products that can make the surrounding  look modern and more personalized. 

You? 

Remember old vinyl music records? 

 Stool made of triple cardboard and craft paper, no glue, just fittings.

Table made of triple cardboard and craft paper, no glue, just fittings. 

Pillow made of jute sack, hand printed. 

Lamp made of old telephone.

Table made of old washing machine.

Photos via Natural Atelier, Caco Shop, Eco Corner.

Over 70 year old apple tree still bearing fruits, no pesticides

This unknown apple tree variety somebody have planted before World War II and since then it bears beautiful fruits. This means it's at least 70 years old - or even might be older. Nobody remembers people who possibly have got this great idea to plant it. 

You see... People are gone, but apple tree is still feeding us...
 
No pesticides ever! were applied on this apple tree.

Apples can be picked in October or November, store well untill February.

What's interesting they don't rot the way we are used to - if the apple is gone, entire fruit turns dark brown.
When picked in November the color is green, then slowly turns yellow - like on the photo.  

Maybe you can recognise the variety?