Above the waxy monstera leaves and bright pink hibiscus flowers in the Barbican conservatory hangs a giant net to catch the panes of glass that are at risk of falling from the ceiling on the unwitting plant lovers below. This precarious situation has caused the estate to shutter its greenhouse on the third and fourth floors for three years so a full refurbishment can take place. But the hiatus has a silver lining for many of those who visited on Wednesday to give the plants from the conservatory a new home.
Five hundred people turned up to pick up a cutting from the Barbican’s plant collection and were asked to fill out an “adoption form” as if they were taking home a pet. Lydia Goldberg, 56, a tech worker, was one of the first through the door and selected a pretty, silvery-green Swedish ivy plant. I am sad to see it close but it’s great that it’s being restored.
Having a piece of the conservatory in my flat will be incredible and this is a real community event. I can see quite a few of my neighbours here!” The Swedish ivy is among the plants being sorted by the head gardener, Marta Lowcewicz. She was fizzing with excitement as queues of people began to file in.
The first, held this week, ran out of free online tickets almost immediately. Part of Lowcewicz’s job is to figure out which plants will remain indoors and which will go outside. The climate has changed considerably since the Barbican was built in the 1960s and many indoor plants are now outdoor plants.
London has sizzled in five heatwaves and the climate control in the conservatory has not caught up. She will select plants that have “big, bold leaves”. We want them to soften it,” she said.
There are plants from all over the world in the conservatory and Geoffrey, a 36-year-old spatial designer, selected one that reminded him of Mexico, where he used to live. I am a great fan of the building and it is great to take a piece of it home with me.” Savannah, 33, and Maria, 30, were grinning with delight and holding their cuttings. I have a ton of plants, but I love the Barbican so it’s very special to have something from here.” Maria, an architectural designer, chose the trailing purple heart plant.
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