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Gardens of Eden: The heavenly horticulture blossoming on roofs high above the city *By Emma Reynolds * *Last updated at 1:51 AM on 16th January 2012* *High above the dreary grey streets of the world's cities, gorgeous gardens blossom in a wilderness of rooftops.* *These unexpectedly colourful spots provide an oasis of calm away from the bustle of urban streets across the U.S., Europe and as far away as Japan.* *The elevated scenery ranges from a wildflower meadow on top of a house in London to a neat lawn tended on top of a New York office block. * *[image: Manhattan marvel: The first green roof the photographers visited, on top of Cook and Fox architects in New York]* *Manhattan marvel: The first green roof the photographers visited, on top of Cook and Fox architects in New York* *[image: Super skyline: Gardens cover the roofs of Stuttgart, Germany, where since 1989 municipal regulations have required all new flat-roof buildings to have them]* *Super skyline: Gardens cover the roofs of Stuttgart, Germany, where since 1989, municipal regulations have required all new flat-roof buildings to have them* *[image: Green power: These vibrant flowers help keep this solar-powered house energy efficient]* *Green power: These vibrant flowers help keep this solar-powered house energy efficient* *Married couple Diane Cook and Len Jenshel travelled the world capturing their photographs of these stunning sights.* *It is their latest project after 25 years spent producing images that show how human's influence their environment.* *The eye-catching plants and flowers not only transform the top of dull office buildings but create habitats for birds and insects and are good for the environment.* *They reduce noise pollution and release oxygen into the atmosphere.* *Mr Jenshel said: 'We have always been concerned with environmental issues in our work both personal projects and assignments.* *[image: Good for the heart: Greenery on a hospital roof overlooking the Rhine River]* *Good for the heart: Greenery on a hospital roof overlooking the Rhine River * *[image: Trees of life: The top of the hospital is one vast, soothing bed of plants]* *Trees of life: The top of the hospital is one vast, soothing bed of plants* *[image: How does your garden grow? Wildflowers above a terraced house in central London]* *How does your garden grow? Wildflowers above a terraced house in central London* *'We document human influence on the landscape and our work usually focuses on something negative such as pollution or over-development. * *'So it was great to do a story on green roofs, where human impact is actually having a positive influence on the planet. * *'The first green roof we visited was the Cook and Fox Architects building in Manhattan. We were blown away. * *'It was this beautiful green planted area in the middle of Manhattan in a sea of grey rooftops. We both gasped, we couldn't believe this beautiful garden was on the roof in the middle of the city. * *'We were so impressed in Switzerland and Germany, where it is now mandatory for any new building with a flat roof to install a green roof.'* *[image: Grassy patch: These lawns look amazingly natural set amid the bright lights of Chicago's skyscrapers at nighttime]* *Grassy patch: These lawns look amazingly natural set amid the bright lights of Chicago's skyscrapers at nighttime* *[image: City in pink: Flowers and leaves brighten up the view on the top of Chicago's City Hall]* *City in pink: Flowers and leaves brighten up the view on the top of Chicago's City Hall* *[image: Blooming wonderful: The Green Roof, The Muse, at architect Justin Beres's home in Islington]* *Blooming wonderful: The Green Roof, The Muse, at architect Justin Beres's home in Islington* *[image: Purple haze: A meadow of wild flowers on a conference centre roof]* *Purple haze: A meadow of wild flowers on a conference centre roof*** -- *".... I am the KING to my own UNIVERSE that Rule my MIND, BODY and SOUL!!! ...." * ** *- Aga Madjid -* -- you have this email because you join to "aga-madjid" GoogleGroups. to post emails, just send to : [email protected] to join this group, send blank email to : [email protected] to quit from this group, just send email to : [email protected] please visit to www.facebook.com/aga.madjid, add my Yahoo Messenger at [email protected] or add my twitter @aga_madjid thanks for joinning this group.
