That’s one idea that local artist Deborah Klein is hoping.

On January 26 and 27 BackspaceGallery will host Ballarat’s first Vertical Garden Project in the hope of teaching the Ballarat community how to create unique plantings for small and unconventional places.

City of Ballarat arts and culture co-ordinator and Backspace Gallery curator Deborah Klein said the idea for the project was inspired by French landscape designer and botanist Patrick Blanc.

“I first saw Patrick Blanc’s work around 1997 . . . and even though he was just starting to develop his ideas, his vertical garden designs were exciting, inspirational and aspirational,” she said.

“No one was creating gardens like that at that time and Patrick has since really pushed the possibilities of green wall planting beyond all expectations.

“I attempted some vertical planting of my own, and when the idea of using shipping pallets as the wall came up, I knew it was something we could offer as a workshop here.

“Ballarat is a garden town full of enthusiastic green-thumbers, so I figured it was a given that people would be interested in trying this technique.”

Ms Klein said it is hoped the project, which uses recycled materials, may open options of use throughout the CBD, particularly as a graffiti diversion initiative along Little Bridge Street in place of the paper paste-ups.

“That is an important heritage precinct and the entry point to the CBD, so it occurred to me that a green, beautiful and Ballarat appropriate installation like a Blanc-inspired green wall might be a better approach,” she said.

“But sometimes people need some gentle, first steps with slightly left-of-field ideas, so I figured a vertical garden taster might be one way of introducing the concept.

“With the Vertical Garden Workshop and subsequent display, I’m hoping people will “get it” that green wall planting has a place in our public and private spaces, and that they’ll have some fun making one of their own.”

The vertical gardens will also be displayed in Alfred Deakin place through February in association with The ReFashion Show and the Ballarat Backyard Tasters.

The info...

WHAT: The Vertical Garden Project

WHERE: Backspace Gallery, Hyghue House, 15 Camp Street at Alfred Deakin Place

WHEN: January 26-27