Strange and Wonderful Japanese Gardening Trends

I HEART CUCUMBERS.....A LOT

This post is actually announcing a new sub-blog that I am starting and beta testing along with my designer friend, Jess. It's called the CHEESEBOOK PROJECT, and it will cover the more interesting, odd, curious or just plant weird happenings that relate to the the plant world ( such as this post). Jess and I are both involved in the design and trend business, and sometimes we come across super-interesting discoveries that are either beautiful, strange, or just noteworthy. We thought that some of our findings might be better if they loved on a separate site. So, I proudly announce the launch of the CHEESEBOOK PROJECT.

NOTE: (We are unofficially 'soft-launching'the site, since we are still designing it, but I would love to hear your thoughts on the content and the concept).

Japanese Cucumber Molds

If you grow cucumbers at home, or want to give the perfect gift to a gardener friend, the Heart-Shaped Cucumber Molds will let you grow your young cucumbers into perfect heart shapes over time (and every time). Have unique salads for dinner parties and special occasions, or use your imagination to create something else entirely!

It's easy to use too: just insert the pins into the mold to hold it together in the right shape. Then insert a baby cucumber into the mold when it's about the size of a little finger, using the hooks and a net to hold it up. As it grows up it will be shaped into a heart. Once it's reached about 70-80% up the mold, release it and harvest your delicious crop! From Japanese Trend Shop for only $87 US.

SHAPED SQUASHES AND PUMPKINS ARE NOT NEW, NOR IS SCARRING, BUT CUCUMBERS? IMAGINE WHERE THIS COULD GO!

I don't know if you've ever been to Japan, but I feel that one of the most amazing things about that most beautiful country, beyond its plants and people who love plants, is its unique product - most of which may seem silly to us, is often simply designed to bring more joy into everyday life, especially life which can be frenzied and in a city like Tokyo, devoid of green  spaces. The Japanese truly treasure nature, but they also have a fascination with controlling things ( i.e. bonsai). Here are a few fun "Friday" things for you to enjoy.

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Sakura Home Cherry Blossom Kit

Also from Japanese Trend Shop, comes this amazingly beautiful little Sakura tree, that one can simply water and allow to "bloom" on your desktop or most anywhere. I may actually order this, since it looks like a great Holiday gift ( it's a little pricey), but it also reminds me of those crystals I used to grow on old bricks using bluing, when I was a kid. I think this is paper, but not sure what the blossoms are. Regardless, it looks like the ultimate conversation piece.

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Green Walls Project

This summer in Tokyo, a promotion to get citizens to grow "green walls". vines growing on mesh to shade terraces and to add beauty and fresh air, is being promoted by a mixed group of sources ranging from the local governments, to seed distributors and local nurseries. 

Already bitten by the container gardening bug and the green movement toward a more sustainable environment, Tokyoites are eagerly challenging each other with their walls of Asagao ( Japanese Morning glories), gourds and Japanese squashes. We all can take a lesson from this most successful movement. On the site linked above, click on the green boxes on the left to see more images.