Urban Jungle Bloggers: Offer A Plant To A Friend

One of the main ideas of our Urban Jungle Bloggers community is to spread the green love. Admittedly, most of the times we do it digitally by sharing our monthly Urban Jungle Bloggers posts, other plant related posts, green pictures on our Pinterest board and other green news on Facebook and Twitter. But for this month's challenge we thought we'd take it literally and spread the love in real deeds, with real plants: We want to encourage you to offer a plant to a friend!

Very often when we think of a gift for a special occasion we think of the usual, classical choices: a bunch of fresh flowers, a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates. Be it a birthday, a housewarming party, a wedding or a simple dinner invitation. But why not consider plants for your next invitation? Offer a plant to a dear person as a toke of your long lasting friendship. Plus the plant gift will last for a long time - unlike the fresh cut flowers, the wine or the chocolates. It will be a lovely and lasting reminder of a special moment and special person.

When I thought of an idea to offer a plant to a friend, I looked around my apartment and I found two cute house vases that were sitting there without a real function or calling. And that sparked an idea: One of my friends has opened Munich's best ice cream parlor not too long ago and I remembered that one cute table sitting in the shop window all empty. So I thought those two little house vases could easily be turned into little growing roofs with colourful succulents as a sort of belated 'housewarming gift' for my friend's ice cream boutique.

It took me like 10 minutes to create the little green roof vases. I filled them up halfway with pebbles, added some succulent soil and planted a small selection of succulents in various sizes and colours. Next thing I found myself in my friend's ice cream boutique True & 12 (where they prepare daily fresh, organic ice cream by hand) and I offered both little plant houses as a present.  Now the succulents are sitting on the little white table in the shop window and watch the world pass by and eat Munich's best ice cream. They must be incredibly happy plants! For this occasion I have teamed up with a dear photographer friend who made those amazingly beautiful pictures - thank you Stefanie!

Oh and listen up! This month is really all about giving: Judith and I will be giving away a secret plant-related gift to two of our readers, so leave a comment below!

Urban Jungle Bloggers is a monthly series initiated by 2 bloggers: Igor (Happy Interior Blog) and Judith (JOELIX.com). Every month we share ideas to create an urban jungle through styling ideas, DIYs and green tips & tricks. You can find additional inspiration on our Urban Jungle Bloggers Pinterest board and keep up-to-date on our website and Facebook page. Want to join? Use #urbanjunglebloggers on Twitter and Instagram. Or let us know and we'll share the badge and upcoming topics with you. Let's bring some green into your homes and blogs!

Photography by Stefanie Szillat, plant styling by Igor Josifovic

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New Shelf Unit At Home

Sometimes I feel that I am pretty continuous for an interior design blogger. I mean I have furniture in my home that's been around for seven years now. On the very same spot. Imagine that! Whenever I read of those creative interior bloggers who shuffle their furniture weekly and exchange their furnishing on a regular basis, I feel like an idle conservative. So I made a decision to change my shelf unit for once. And here it is. 

Previously I had a somewhat quirky shelf unit that was irregular in its shape and with closed sides. Now I have opted for a lighter, airier version in order to keep it light and bright in my small space. This shelf unit has open sides which is perfect to display cascading plants like my ivy as they are free to grow and get enough sunlight even if the shelf unit is not placed close to a window. Moreover I liked the Nordic vibe of the shelf unit using oak wood and a white finishing.

I found my shelf unit named 'Farringdon' at Habitat during one of my visits in their Paris store. I liked it instantly and a few weeks later it arrived in my Munich home. I also like the fact that it offers a lot of space for ever changing stylings and decor vignettes. After all it seems I am not that idle. Nor am I a conservative. Here's to fun shelf stylings!

Farringdon shelf unit by Habitat, Vida floor lamp by Urbanara

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Lost In Plantation

I love traveling. I love all the inspiration I bring back from my many trips. I also love plants. And combining both is the perfect equation for me. But sometimes you don't even have to go away to spend a special holiday. I have discovered over time that botanical gardens are the perfect green escape for an instant holiday feel - even in your own hometown. So one sunny Saturday morning I set off to the beautiful botanical garden in Munich and enjoyed the morning sun, lush greens and I wandered from one climate zone to the next one in their greenhouses. All was topped by a fantastic outdoor garden in full bloom. Spring must be the most beautiful seasons ever, right?

So this was just a short green escape that I wanted to share with you. I am thinking of making my 'Lost in Plantation' a sort of irregular blog series featuring the various botanical gardens I visit on my travels. What do you think? Yay or nay?

Oh and by the way: All images were shot with my iPhone on-the-go as I did not take my big camera with me. I still hope you love and enjoy it!

Happy green week to you all!

Photography with iPhone 5S by Igor Josifovic

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Pillow Talk By Wool And The Gang

One of the advantages of social media is bonding with likeminded people. Yes you could call it the gangs of the 21st century. One of those gangs that unites people with a love for knitting or knitted goodies is Wool and the Gang. I had the opportunity to meet the creative minds of Wool and the Gang during our Bloggers Tour in London in March and I even managed to knit a row - can you imagine! I still officially claim that I have two left hands when it comes to any kind of DIY! But Wool and the Gang caters to all people with a passion for cosy knitwear - even to those who are happy with ready knit goods.

Wool and the Gang is above all known for its knitwear - it can be bought either ready made or as knit kits for talented hands. When I met Wool and the Gang during our visit to Heal's in London (thanks to the interiors community at{mine}), I heard their news about launching a new home collection and it's launched by now - they extended their collection with knitted cushions, pillows and a blanket.

I've been cuddling up with their knitted pillow for a while now and I can confirm that it has become my favorite sofa cuddle buddy - while I am working, watching a movie or simple cozying up with a good book and coffee. The pillow is super soft as it is made of a unique yarn that has been made from up-cycled t-shirt scraps.

Are you a talented knitter (unlike me)? Or do you prefer the ready-made version? Whatever version you opt for, one thing is for sure: it is super cosy and comfy. And you'll be part of the gang - Wool and the Gang.

Photography by Igor Josifovic, second image by Wool and the Gang

This post has been brought to you in collaboration with Wool and the Gang

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Ready For Summer With West Elm

My favorite season of the year is right now, it's spring. One of the many reasons is also the pleasant anticipation of summer with its promise of warm summer nights, barbecues with friends, poolside fun and beach time. It also means making the home ready for summer - everything is airy and breezy, the colours are brighter and happier, there is a wonderful lightness in the air. West Elm is getting ready for summer too - with a bright and cheerful collection for the warm season of the year.

West Elm launches a great selection of outdoor furniture for your balcony, garden or veranda including some very beautiful mosaic bistro and coffee tables - I love the absolute summer vibe of the mosaic bistro tables, they remind me of summer fun on the Greek islands, don't you agree? But not only your outdoors will be beautifully equipped for summer, West Elm also offers a great range of furniture, home accessories and home textiles for your indoors. I love the Steven Alan striped collection of home textiles in particular - look at the gorgeous rug! And do I spot some Happy Interior Blog colours on the rug's diamond pattern?

Moreover West Elm features currently a great range of terrariums, planters (look at the fantastic mid-century turned leg planters) and small cacti and succulents. I need not mention how much I love that as an Urban Jungle Blogger, right?

I also had the great opportunity to attend a terrarium workshop at West Elm in London during our Bloggers Tour thanks to at{mine}, who invited us to create our own terrarium with West Elm. And yes, I was very proud of my little terrarium (as you can see) and I brought it back to Munich where it resides happily on my windowsill - awaiting summer just like me!

Photography by West Elm, last pic by Susanna Vento

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Swinging Plant With Tina Frey Designs

Recently I said in a video that I have around 30 plants in my apartment of around 30 square meters - thus one plant per square meter. Admittedly, it gets a bit tricky to find a place for new plants so the only solution I have is to go up high - with hanging planters. In one of the past Urban Jungle Bloggers posts I showed you some of my hanging planters but as of today I the happy owner of a super nice hanging planter made of resin. This swinging beauty is the handmade work of San Francisco based Tina Frey Designs, the place for all happy things made of resin.

My Pothos plant has found a very happy and joyfully swinging home - the new hanging square vessel, hand sculpted by Tina Frey in San Francisco. This hanging planter is part of the new Urban Garden Collection by Tina Frey Designs launching this spring.

I love the simplicity of this planter, its wonderfully smooth resin surface and the handmade shape with slight imperfections. Moreover I think this hanging planter has a cool mid-century modern vibe. If you like it too, how about if I tell you that I have one more hanging planter just like mine to give away?

The hanging planter is perfect for all kind of cascading or vining plants. But it also works for small plants that can swing up in the air - your choice! I've opted for a Pothos plant, one of those hard-to-kill plants that has hardly any requests. It can grow in a bright place as well as in shady corners, it thrives in dry soil as well as in water - simply put, it is perfect if you want some growing greens without being stressed about plant care. Now if you feel ready for a Pothos plant, join the giveaway and with a bit of luck you'll call this cool Tina Frey Designs hanging planter your very own.

To win one Tina Frey Designs hanging square vessel 15 in white just leave a comment below and follow me on Instagram as well as Tina Frey Designs. For an extra chance visit JOELIX.com to win a large Tina Frey Designs bowl. The winner will be announced here on April 27th, 2015 and is open worldwide. Good luck and happy (green) week!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Plants + Crystals: Homestead Apothecary

A trip to Oakland, California, would mean a long-haul flight and some additional driving for me. Or else a simple click on Edition Local, an online platform from Northern California building and supporting local communities and small businesses such as the Homestead Apothecary by Nicholas Weinstein. And I must admit I pondered a trip to Oakland when I saw and read the story of Homestead Apothecary.

Nicholas Weinstein opened Homestead Apothecary in 2013 after a long period of feeling sick and tired with no evident reason. Running from one doctor to another yielded no result nor cure. Only after he had decided to visit a naturopath his condition changed slowly to the better. Nicholas Weinstein started experimenting with his own herbal formulas for a sustainable and long-term healing and this endeavor eventually resulted in the founding and opening of Homestead Apothecary, a 'community space for all things herbal'.

The small but beautiful shop boasts with herbal blends, teas, tinctures, crystals, honey, vintage herb books and more. As someone who loves plants and crystals, this shop caught my eye immediately. But I loved Nicholas' story above all - a path commenced due to a personal need that could not be catered to. A path that turned interest, work and passion into a beautiful project and business. After all it is a story that reminds us that we should follow our dreams and create. For our own sake and the sake of the community. Read the full story on Edition Local.

Photography by Aubrey Trinnaman for Edition Local

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