If you blast durian into space, will it still smell?

If you look up garden ruins or follies in the dictionary, you will be told that they are ‘costly ornamental buildings with no practical purpose.’

Collaborative post

There are areas in our homes that tend to be common storage areas, such as attics or basements. But just because a space can hold a stack of boxes doesn't mean it should. Before you stash a box of clothes or holiday decorations away, consider the ways in which factors like temperature, moisture, and household pests might affect the items you're storing.

There are many creative ways to incorporate greenery into your house without purchasing living plants and trees. We asked interior designers to share their top tips for making a home feel more green and nature-filled, and they came up with some excellent suggestions that are great for small space dwellers and those in larger houses alike.

Switching up your decor for the seasons is always fun. But this isn’t always practical because not only can it be expensive, but it can also soon become a storage problem. One of the quickest and budget-friendliest way to introduce seasonal decor is with garlands. You can have one, two or even ten for each season and each holiday without much spend or space needed.

I met the Duke of Edinburgh a few years ago. Shame I was stuck in front of a computer at the time, and not somewhere more exciting like the Chelsea Flower Show. Meeting human royalty might be a rare occurrence for most people, but you can surround yourself with royal plants and get that regal feeling every time you step into the garden. To illustrate my point, let me share with you an old joke….

Word by Matt de Neef, The Conversation

If you’ve ever wished you lived in a tropical climate, simply so that you could grow your own chocolate, then the future is looking bright. Last time I touched on this subject I mentioned plants that might add a chocolatey touch to your garden (with their colour, scent and even flavour).

When Virgin Galactic’s Unity 22 flew into space on Sunday, it carried one billionaire passenger and three tubes filled with plants.

Header image: Blue Origin

I imagine the Apollo 11 astronauts had plenty to do while they were hurtling towards the Moon, but from a bystander’s perspective it was probably pretty dull stuff. Still, it’s Day 3 of the mission, so let’s have a look at what they’ve got stashed away in their space age picnic basket.

Matt Damon as astronaut and exobotanist Mark Watney in the film The Martian grows crops on Mars. (20th Century Fox/Handout)