Gizmodo: greenery

Vauxhall Sky Garden Building Gets Three-Storey Gardens Inside

Kit Eaton — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:45:00 EST

This 130m skyscraper has been approved for building in London, but unlike "dead" conventional buildings, the Sky Garden includes plans for two three-story gardens to be built inside it. The idea is to "create a space for social interaction" and "foster micro communities," which sounds like a neat way of combining green eco-friendliness and dense urban buildings. The gardens will cover about 2,500 square meters in total: a significant proportion of the building to give up from your normal retail/accommodation space. And it's just going to be way cool to take a stroll in the "park" in your own building. [DesignBoom]

Plant Sensor Tells You Exactly Why You Suck At Gardening

Elaine Chow — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:30:00 EDT

In yet another attempt to further plant and human inter-communication, a company called PlantSense is now offering a USB stake that monitors the soil around your greens and gives you advice on how to keep them healthy. Great for people like me, who have trouble getting even herbs to grow right.

The user places the PlantSense GardenGro sensor in a spot right next to the plant, and 24 hours later, plugs the USB hub into their computer. The sensor's data will then upload to PlantSense's website, which doles out tips like “water more,” or “pile on less plant food, your peppers are getting fat.”

The service is a little expensive—$59.95 for each USB stake. But isn't that a small price to pay to be able to munch on your own home-grown Roma tomatoes, your black thumb overcome by the wonders of technology? [EverythingUSB]

Sensory Lamp Concept Brings Garden to Mousemat

Kit Eaton — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:31:06 EST

If you couldn't escape to experience the Great Outdoors because you were stuck in an office cubicle, or happened to be living through a rain-lashed Winter, then this ambient light mousemat complete with mini-lawn might be a tiny desktop alternative. Sara Rossbach's concept has a patch of grass curling around your mouse, and lights the pad with a cycle of cheery colors. The good: nurturing the grass might distract you from day-to-day office grind. The bad: no automatic water sprinkles. The worse: more bugs for your computer. [SaraRossbach.com via Elit Alice]