Roof Horticulture

Gardens of Eden: The heavenly horticulture blossoming on roofs high above the city

By Emma Reynolds

Last updated at 9:52 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.

Manhattan marvel: The first green roof the photographers visited, on top of Cook and Fox architects in New York

Super skyline: Gardens cover the roofs of Stuttgart, Germany, where since 1989, municipal regulations have required all new flat-roof buildings to have them

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.

Good for the heart: Greenery on a hospital roof overlooking the Rhine River

Trees of life: The top of the hospital is one vast, soothing bed of plants

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.'

Grassy patch: These lawns look amazingly natural set amid the bright lights of Chicago's skyscrapers at nighttime

City in pink: Flowers and leaves brighten up the view on the top of Chicago's City Hall

Blooming wonderful: The Green Roof, The Muse, at architect Justin Beres's home in Islington

Purple haze: A meadow of wild flowers on a conference centre roof