Jane Fonda is described as a Hollywood icon – known for starring in Grace and Frankie, Barbarella, and Book Club. After decades in the industry, it is unsurprising and understandable that the actress craves privacy around her Los Angeles home – not least in her garden. But how does she maintain solitude in the most exposed space of all? Her vertical garden ideas may be the solution.
In the photo below, Jane is seen relaxing on a bench alongside a large outdoor dining table – complemented with green and cream printed cushions adjacent to the actress.
While her color-coordinated outdoor dining set-up is already something to note – we can’t help but feel distracted by her vertical planter in the backdrop. This feature offers garden privacy while accentuating the green furnishings and bringing a verdant feel to the al-fresco space.
Alongside their qualities in terms of privacy, vertical gardens and living walls are one of the easiest ways to fill your garden with color – adding immediate visual interest in even the smallest of gardens (since you only need space vertically).
This feature, which is often labeled as a ‘garden trend,’ has enjoyed a surge in recent years thanks to social media platforms that have praised its benefits for our mental well-being. And, with the support of Jane Fonda, we expect vertical gardens will enjoy yet another resurgence when the time comes this spring.
‘Vertical gardens are a creative way to elevate an otherwise ordinary space into your own mini landscape, which grows, changes, and transforms your living space,’ says Bloom & Wild’s (opens in new tab) plant expert Keira Kay. ‘They not only make for great social media content, but they have many health and environmental benefits.’
A similar vertical garden
(Image credit: Leigh clapp)
Besides her acting career, Jane Fonda has also made a name as an activist – primarily influential in the fight against climate change. It is almost inevitable, therefore, that vertical walls are one of the most eco-friendly garden features you can incorporate into your space.
‘Outdoor green living walls can improve the air quality of a city by filtering harmful toxins and pollutants,’ Keira says. ‘They are beneficial for the climate, decreasing the UHI (urban heat island effect). On top of that, they can be a haven for wildlife, such as birds and insects, within busy cities.’
However, whether you’re an urban dweller or not, we’re convinced a Fonda-inspired vertical garden will make a statement (and protect your privacy) around your home.