A Wonderful Green Presentation

Jennifer Langston, Patrick Blanc, Molly Dixon, and Ninna Pettersen

On February 28, with generous support from Joan Holmes, Margaret Ransohoff, Robin Schachat, and the Mather Fund, the Shaker Lakes Garden Club hosted Patrick Blanc, a leading expert on Vertical Gardens.  He led us through his earliest works as a teenager in Paris, through fifty years leading up to his newest projects in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.  His designs are represented on six continents. 

Engaging, entertaining, and informative, Dr Blanc appears on stage with green hair, a glass of wine, and a strong French accent.  His is a very visual presentation, with some green walls scaling 340 feet of concrete and incorporating more than 200 species of flora.

Much of his work is transformative.  Unsightly bridges become marvels of greenery.  Nondescript architecture becomes glorious and intriguing.  Towering empty spaces are brought to life with spiraling green chandeliers.  And all this is done without soil, and with minimal maintenance.  He walked us through the chemistry, biology and physics of his installations.

When he showed the photograph of his office in Paris, many in the audience gasped in wonder at the raised glass floor perched above a massive aquarium, surrounded by interior green walls and dangling roots. So exotic, and so fitting. 

He arrived in Cleveland from Cuba, and departed Cleveland for Cameroon.  These were among his many expeditions to explore and collect plant species all over the world. 

Ninna Pettersson and Jennifer Langston gave him a world-class tour of Cleveland on Monday.  Gale Clarry organized a beautiful lunch for 60 members of SLGC and GCC after the program, with gorgeous centerpieces of orchid and ferns on an Eiffel Tower by Cathy Annable and crew. 

www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com
Patrick@patrickblanc.com

Merci beaucoup to the following volunteers, whose efficiency, humor and help made the program run smoothly:

Cathy Annable                                 Leslie Marting                 

Moira Carr                                         Judith McMillan

Gale Clarry                                        Cathy Miller

Ryn Clarke                                        Jennifer Moeller

Sarah Dimling                                  Joan Mullen

Jane Ellison                                      Amy Paine

Anne Ginn                                        Ninna Pettersson

Julie Given                                        Carol Provan

Dozie Herbruck                                Mary Bruce Rae-Grant

Joan Holmes                                    Margaret Ransohoff

Margaret Krudy                                Anne Rogoff

Jennifer Langston                            Robin Schachat

Bonnie Lau                                       Betsy Stueber

Mary Anne Liljedahl                         Jennifer Wey