Moss Monday: San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers

A Wardian Case with pitcher plants and moss from the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers

Lowland Tropics, San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers

Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, the flowerbeds hadn't been planted yet.

I had an exceptional 24 hours in San Francisco last week with my sister, Alyssa.  The weather was deliciously warm and sunny, unusual in the city so perhaps I brought it with me from Austin.  We walked from her neighborhood over to Candlestick Park on the auspicious hallows of a local holiday.  Amid wafting, incense-like smoke we toured the the Conservatory of Flowers.  If you may recall, we were foiled from participating in a tour last time I visited her, forced only to walk the perimeter of the Victorian greenhouse, constructed from a Sears Roebuck prefabricated kit if I recall correctly.

So without much ado I'll share my best photos from the tour.  I have some gems so I'm going to space them out based on each room of the Conservatory.  Virtual tour y'all!  I'll be here all week!

Lowland Tropics Gallery, conservatoryofflowers.org

Let's start in the Lowland Tropics room, the largest gallery in the conservatory.  The enclosure boasts an immense vaulted ceiling to safely house a collection of large cycads and fruiting trees.

Wide format of the gallery, from conservatoryofflowers.org

I missed taking some room-wide shots of this gallery so I'll add this photo from the website so you can get an idea of the scale. 

One of the most valuable plants in the collection is the 100-year old GIANT Imperial Philodendron, pictured below.  The plant grows up a steel support system and is braced with large vortex supports.  Immense leaves create a canopy over the center of the gallery and shade the plants below.

Imperial Philodendron

Note the sprawling support structure needed to brace the plant.  In nature a plant of this stature would depend on the branches of nearby trees.

Next we'll visit the Highland Tropics Gallery.  

Alapash Home Store in Chicago

Alapash Home store, photo by Jared Hash

Chicago-area readers may be interested in the newest home-and-terrarium store Alapash Home in Ravenswood.  For more information about Alapash terraria you can read my Q&A with Marco here or visit the website of Alapash Home.  Jared Hash of Chicago Racked describes the scene at the store:

 Marco's new environment offers terrariums of all sizes made with a broad variety of plants ranging from lush moss to desert cactus and custom terrariums. The shop also sells candles, plants, small industrial accessories, and books.

DanMade Terrariums

DanMade terrarium from HGTV Design Happens

Ok.  I am so mesmerized by that animated gif that I can barely type my commentary below it.  HGTV Design Happens, Abbi Collum reports:

Dan Faires, the Design Star season five fan favorite and host of DanMade, presented at the 19th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival presented by HGTV at Walt Disney World over Easter weekend. Dan demonstrated how to plant with a terrarium and how to go vertical with a clever container garden. Check out Dan’s tips for terrariums and vertical gardens.

Terrarium Chandelier DIY at CB2

Terrarium Chandelier at CB2

I didn't realize CB2 had a DIY area but here's a guide for making this terrarium "chandelier" out of some of CB2's nifty pendent vases.  The cords depicted are electrical wires but I don't actually think their are light bulbs involved.  It's not really my aesthetic but I appreciate the novelty.  What do you think?

Moss Monday: the Mosser

The Mosser by Etsy themosserstore

For those of you that prefer your terrarium more like a pet-rock I offer the Mosser from Etsy store themosserstore.  I dig the beaker-type jar and scientific styling but it does lack some of the finesse of a more authentic terrarium.

Originally spotted at notcot.org. 

Ferns of Louisiana

Fort Polk, LA

 My sweetheart fiance was treking around in the woods of Louisiana last month and was considerate enough to snap some photos of the ferns he found!

Trek in a Bottle & 8 Oaks Terrarium Video

Eight Oaks Terrariums by Josh Leo

On those days when you'd much rather by tromping around outside but are stuck indoors you can simply gaze at your own hike-in-a-bottle.  From Eight Oaks Terrariums by Josh Leo.

If you'd like a behind-the-scenes peek at Josh making his terrariums with some classic tools-of-the-trade check out this video:

Ron Gladkowski's Terrarium Museum

Kaleidoscope Terrarium by Ron Gladkowski

Recently my sister Alyssa directed me to the Terrarium Museum, exhibiting leaded glass terraria handcrafted by New Yorker Ron Gladkowski.   Check out the Museum to see a variety of Wardian case-type classic terrarium rigs.  Ron also has some more snazzy "modern" designs akin to the above Kaleidoscope terrarium.  Ron describes his creations as thus:

For over 30 years, my approach to creativity is to let my imagination run free, and follow it. I see shapes in my head, and I make them in glass. The softness of the plants and flowers contrast with the angles and lines in the design, and bring balance and harmony between man's and nature's creations. Terrariums give shelter to the plants, and the plants give life to the terrariums. You can find my work at Art and Craft Fairs, throughout the Eastern United States, and a complete portfolio of past and present work atThe Terrarium Museum 

I have offered my work here on the Web since 1996, and have received a very encouraging response. I have shipped both custom designed, and production terrariums to Satisfied Customers in about every corner of this country. Customers from Florida, to Washington State, and Maine to California, as well as over 40 more states in between, have safely received their terrariums. The Internet is a wonderful showcase for my ever changing portfolio. 

Tall Wardian Case in the Victorian style,
by Ron Gladkowski

Terrarium-making Party

Terrariums on parade, photos by Michelle Tsang

My sister Alyssa and her friend Michelle had a terrarium-making party in San Francisco a few weeks ago.  I am lucky to be able to share the photodocumentary of their experience!  To see more of Michelle's photos visit http://michelletsangphoto.carbonmade.com/.

Terrariums and supplies

Beautiful plants

Completed terraria

 

12 Terrarium Treasures at Mother Nature Network

Geodesic Terrarium @ Restoration Hardware ($249)

Matt Hickman put together a tasteful-top-twelve of terrarium dream tools and containers at the Mother Nature Network.  My favorite is the above-pictured geodesic terrarium.  What a stunner! 

Hematite Sand Terrarium at Collage With Nature

Hematite Sand Terrarium by Collage With Nature

A week or so ago an anonymous commenter posted on the F&M asking about where s/he could find hematite sand.  I had never even heard of the stuff but I had an inkling as to what it might be!  A quick search confirmed my suspicions and produced this lovely terrarium kit from Collage With Nature complete with hematite sand.  Beautiful and somehow evocative of retro-futurism to me.

Anyone have any experience with hematite sand or other sand derived from semi-precious stones?

Moss Monday: Beetlejuice Terrarium

Beetlejuice Terrarium by Etsy vendor Rachelthebish

Peep this Beetlejuice terrarium replete with a  a wax-sculpted, hand-painted house, plus moss harvested from Etsy vendor Rachelthebish's hometown forests.  I like the topography.  Originally spotted at Dude I Want That!.

Vertical Forests in Italy

Stefano Boeri, Bosco Verticale

I seem to be on a futuristic garden kick this week so let's keep it rolling.  Check out the designs for this tree-focused high-rise in construction in Italy right now.  The plan seems to be to include platforms at the end of each floor to allow for tree growth. 

Do you think its feasible? Aesthetically pleasing?  Loony?



Stefano Boeri, Bosco Verticale Diagram

Learn more at Stefano Boeri's site for the project, Bosco Verticale.

Plant the Future by Paloma Teppa

Plant the Future Cacti Mini Garden by Paloma Teppa

If you're looking for some stately inspiration for your next terrarium or mini-garden look no further than Plant the Future arrangements by Paloma Teppa.  In addition to the aforementioned items she has some surreal looking potted figurines. 

The succulent gardens are easy to DIY with any modern ceramic pottery easily found at a craft store.  I made a few as some thank you gifts and received rave reviews. 

Plant the Future Horse Figurine by Paloma Teppa

Do Cyborg Snails Dream of Electric Sheep on Mossy Hills?

Cyborg Snails Power Up / Nature News

I'm excited to be able to post from such a classy source.  Nature News reports on scientists tapping biofuel power from ordinary garden snails.  You can read more about the astounding science behind this project at the link but I'd rather just pause and enjoy that lovely mossy hillock upon which rests that little bio-battery snail.