Page 18 - homestyle New Zealand (February - March 2020)

STYLE —— Bookmarks

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Your other favourite reads.

Green by Jason Chongue
(Hardie Grant, $37)

Move over, yoga — thanks to the
patience and practice it requires,
many urbanites are turning to
gardening as a remedy to the rush,
rush, rush. Nothing makes you feel
more grounded than actually putting
your hands in the dirt and, just like
tree pose, helping plants to flourish
isn’t as tricky as it looks. Melbourne
founder of The Plant Society Jason
Chongue notes that with space at
a premium in our cities and homes,
man-made is often prioritised over
nature, but says you don’t need a
backyard to own plants that bring
you daily joy. Every page of his
guide to growing greenery in smaller
homes and offices is inspirational and
informative, but it’s chapters four
and five that will carry you through,
with their solid advice and casualty-
preventing suggestions. Jason has
400-plus thriving plants at his place,
so you can take his words for it.

TOP Choose plants with textures
and growth habits that relate to
the design elements in your home.
RIGHT Styling aids can let plants Words: Philippa Prentice. Green photography: Armelle Habib
breathe visually, while raising
them up to their optimal light
conditions. OPPOSITE LEFT
Minimise the effect of artificial
heating and cooling systems
by placing plants a metre or
two away from vents. OPPOSITE
RIGHT Potted gardens are about
balance, achieved here with a
mix of short and tall plants.

18 homestyle