San Francisco - January 12, 2007

Oh, Grow Up

Urban Forest Home

You’re a real grown-up. Decent-paying job, fulfilling relationship, enough chairs to host a dinner party.

So what’s with the cemetery of houseplants on the windowsill?

Take responsibility for your leafy friends at Urban Forest Home, Berkeley’s new modern garden shop.

The in-store potting bar has a selection of healthy, hard-to-kill plants that can be, um, neglected for up to a month if, say, you need to unexpectedly go on the lam. If that strategy already sounds hopeless, invest in elegant white canvas plants or other excellent replicas. More seasoned florists can mix and match organic soils and adorable pots at grow-your-own workshops.

The spacious loft also sells organic and fair-trade objets d’art (like corrugated cardboard furniture and recycled plastic doormats) ideal for the conscientious consumer.

Now that’s one to grow on.

Urban Forest Home, 1880 Solano Avenue, Berkeley (510-525-2500 or urbanforest.com).