Above: Lush, ground-covering Irish moss.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending Lord Whimsy’s (Arthur-sponsored) Terrarium Workshop in Philly. Among many other pieces of invaluable botanical information, he shared one of the most inventive graffiti-making methods that I’ve ever encountered; using cheap ingredients (found moss, water and buttermilk or beer), it is possible to blend up a moss-spreading concoction that can be painted with a brush onto any stone surface (such as a garden wall, walkway or even the exterior of your home) to create the living design of your wildest imagination. If it has always been your dream to have living walls, this could be the start of something beautiful…

Lord Whimsy’s Guide to GROWING YOUR OWN MOSS:

Try spreading your carpet of moss with this method: find and clean a clump of moss. Add equal parts water and buttermilk (beer apparently also works well). Add a couple tablespoons of sugar. Mix in a blender: the consistency should be soupy, but not too watery or thick. Pour wherever you’d like moss to grow. Moist, shady spots are best. You can also apply the moss slurry onto surfaces of stones or walls with a paintbrush.

Above: Japanese moss-covered home.