Cool idea for west-facing walls

Down at the Council depot in Holmes Rd, an enterprising team has tackled the problem of insulating west facing walls from the outside - a wall of drip-watered succulents and other plants shields the wall from the afternoon heat.

The side view shows how the arrangements works.  The succulents are gown in specially designed crates, the crates are attached to a frame bolted to the wall, and a watering system drips moisture from the top. Some plantings seem to do better than others.


This seems a great idea for a problem wall. 

Spanish effect in Moonee Ponds

We've always had exotic influences in Moonee Ponds - the upper storey of this shop in Holmes Rd, Moonee Ponds, shows Spanish Mission tiles and stucco work in its decoration.