Another of Blanc's verdant inventions adorns the Musee du quai Branly in Paris. Like all of his work, this installation uses no soil. Instead Blanc attaches water-retaining felt to PVC panels held up by a stainless steel frame. Piping at the top periodically releases water mixed with fertilizer, dampening the felt and nourishing the plants.

Aside from their aesthetic advantages, a vertical garden acts like a green roof to regulate temperatures inside the building, keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer. Interested in your own vertical garden? Prices start at about $800 per square meter.